Miss Universe 2025 – between crown and scandals: what you need to know

The 2025 Miss Universe pageant, held in Bangkok, Thailand, resulted in a crowning of Fatima Bosch (Miss Mexico) but also a series of high-profile controversies that marred the event. Here are the major controversies that rocked the competition.

The main controversies

1. Insults, public humiliation, and walkouts of the candidates

Before the final, a live-streamed video showed the local manager, Nawat Itsaragrisil, calling Fátima Bosch a “dumbhead” during a preparatory exchange.
Shocked, Bosch leaves the room — several other candidates follow her, provoking a real collective outburst of anger. 
This moment of public humiliation highlighted power dynamics, the treatment of candidates and the lack of respect towards some delegates — elements that caused an uproar on social media.

2. Doubts about impartiality and accusations of “rigged voting”

Shortly before the final, several jury members resigned — including Omar Harfouch — stating that the The top 30 finalists had been “pre-selected” by a secret juryoutside of the official procedure, and that there were conflicts of interest between certain judges and candidates.
According to Harfouch, Fátima Bosch's victory was not a coincidence, but the result of an agreement between one of the contest's co-owners, Raúl Rocha Cantú, and Bosch's father — an agreement deemed a conflict of interest. 
These factors have cast serious doubt on the transparency and fairness of the competition.

3. Incident Management — Candidate falls and requires hospitalization

During the competition, a candidate (Miss Jamaica 2025) suffered a serious fall during the preliminary show, requiring her hospitalization in intensive care.
The incident raised questions about the safety of the candidates, the organizational conditions and the level of support provided by the organizers — especially since the event was already being criticized for its lack of seriousness.
Some saw it as a reflection of a competition more concerned with glamour than with the actual safety of the participants.

4. Controversies surrounding the contest organizers — accusations of fraud, manipulation, and shaken legitimacy

Shortly after the end of the competition, the two co-owners of the organization, the Thai Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip (JKN Global group) and the Mexican Raúl Rocha Cantú, were targeted by serious investigations:

• An arrest warrant has been issued for Jakrajutatip in connection with a fraud trial — she is accused of embezzling approximately $930,000 from an investor.

• For his part, Raúl Rocha Cantú is under investigation for alleged trafficking of weapons, drugs and fuel.

These revelations, just days after the election, cast a huge shadow over the credibility of the competition. Many are now questioning whether the awarded "crown" can still be considered legitimate, in a context where the organization itself is being called into question.

5. Reactions and crises of confidence — abandonment, resignations and disaffection

Following the controversies, some members of the competition distanced themselves:

• A finalist, Olivia Yacé (Miss Côte d'Ivoire / Miss Universe Africa & Oceania 2025), renounced her title, believing that the competition did not respect the values ​​of equality, dignity and fairness that she upholds.

• Several partners and former judges did not hide their unease: one of the judges — Omar Harfouch — publicly denounced the lack of transparency and claimed that the vote was biased.

• Internationally, voices are being raised to question the legitimacy of the competition — some are wondering if glamour and glitz are still worthwhile without respect for rules, safety or ethics.

And now? What does the future hold for Miss Universe?

These controversies could mark a turning point for the Miss Universe 2025 competition. Several challenges arise:

• Restore the candidates' confidencesponsors and the public, by reforming governance and ensuring transparency in voting.

• Improve safety and well-being candidates — the fall incident shows that safety can no longer be sacrificed for the show.

• Redefining the integrity and ethics criteria When leaders themselves are implicated, what is the legitimacy of the crown they bestow?

• Repairing the image of the competition: without serious reforms, many voices (candidates, journalists, fans) could turn their backs on an institution that has hitherto been emblematic.

A powerful message for the contestants and the fans

Miss Universe 2025 shows that behind the glamour and the dream, there are serious issues at stake—power, money, influence, media pressure, justice. The stories of Fatima Bosch and Olivia Yacé should serve as a wake-up call. Respect, dignity, and fairness are non-negotiable..

This competition, meant to celebrate beauty, diversity, and empowerment, can no longer function as a superficial spectacle. If Miss Universe wants to survive this crisis, it will have to prove that it is capable of embracing modern ethics—with values ​​that make it credible in the eyes of women worldwide.