The Miss Universe stage lit up in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday night as the 74th edition of the famous pageant crowned its new queen Fátima Bosch from Mexico. Competing against contestants from more than 130 countries, Bosch took home the title at the event held inside Impact Challenger Hall. This year’s theme was “The Power of Love,” and the night was full of excitement, cheers and plenty of emotions.
But behind the glam and gowns, the competition arrived with more drama than usual. Just weeks earlier, a livestream went viral showing pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil scolding Bosch for allegedly refusing to join a photo shoot. Bosch denied the claim and walked out of the room, and several contestants followed her in support. The clip spread quickly online, sparking debate and criticism. Speaking to the media afterward, Bosch said she was disrespected and claimed Nawat called her “dumb.”
The president of the Miss Universe Organization, Raul Rocha Cantu, later released a video backing the contestants and criticizing Nawat’s behavior. He said that the treatment seen in the video did not reflect the true spirit of the pageant.
The controversy didn’t stop there. Days before the final competition, judge Omar Harfouch suddenly resigned, claiming he discovered a secret group had chosen 30 finalists without the involvement of the official judges. According to him, the group included people with possible personal ties to some contestants, raising concerns about fairness. After his accusations, the organization released a statement saying the claims were false and insisting that the judging process followed strict rules and transparency.
Two more judges former soccer star Claude Makélélé and Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie also stepped down shortly before the event. New judges were brought in, including Natalie Glebova, a former Miss Universe. It later became public that she had coached the contestant competing as Miss Canada, adding yet another layer of controversy.
Despite all the tension leading up to the event, the final night still delivered a powerful and emotional celebration of global beauty and culture. Last year’s winner, Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark, returned to pass on the crown after becoming the first Danish Miss Universe ever. She placed the sparkling tiara on Bosch’s head as the audience roared.
And just like that, Mexico celebrated a brand-new Miss Universe crowned in the middle of glamour, applause and plenty of drama behind the scenes.
