The Miss Universe 2025 competition in Bangkok took a dramatic turn this week after several contestants staged a walkout in protest of comments made by Thai pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil toward Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch.
According to Newsweek, the confrontation occurred during a sashing ceremony, which was streamed live on the Miss Universe Thailand Facebook page.
Itsaragrisil, who serves as vice president for Asia and Oceania within the Miss Universe Organization, publicly reprimanded Bosch for missing a sponsor event earlier in the day. In front of dozens of contestants, he accused her of being “dumb” and “disrespectful,” escalating tensions as cameras rolled.
According to clips circulating on social media, Bosch remained calm but refused to be humiliated.
“What your director just did is not respectful,” she later said in a TikTok video. “He called me dumb because he has problems with the organization. I’m trying to give my best, and he just shot me down. The world needs to see this because we are empowered women, and this is a platform for our voice. No one can shut our voice.”
After Bosch left the room, other contestants—including reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark—walked out in solidarity. “Standing up for yourself is not always easy,” Theilvig wrote on her Instagram stories. “But it’s one of the most important acts of self-respect and strength you can show. Enough is enough—our voices will be heard loud and clear.”
The moment quickly went viral across TikTok, Instagram, and X, where hashtags like #StandWithMexico and #JusticeForFatima dominated global trends.
In a follow-up video posted to Facebook, Itsaragrisil attempted to smooth things over, inviting contestants back into the room “except Mexico,” claiming “she’s talking too much.” The move only intensified criticism, with fans demanding accountability from both him and the Miss Universe Organization.
Miss Universe México later issued a statement defending Bosch, saying, “No woman, on any stage, deserves to be insulted or humiliated. We firmly believe in the values that Miss Universe promotes—respect, dignity, and empowerment.”
As of this writing, the Miss Universe Organization said it was sending a high-level delegation to Thailand to “ensure a secure and professional environment for all delegates” ahead of the November 21 competition.