The 74th Miss Universe pageant, held this year in Thailand, has become one of the most talked-about editions in recent memory; not just for its crowning moment, but for the very public controversy that preceded it.
Fátima Bosch of Mexico emerged victorious, taking home the Miss Universe 2025 crown but her win came amid considerable turmoil.
The shake-up began at a live-streamed pre-pageant event when Nawat Itsaragrisil, the director of Miss Universe Thailand, publicly reprimanded Bosch. He accused her of failing to produce enough promotional content for Thailand, allegedly calling her a “dumbhead.”
When Bosch attempted to defend herself, security was called to remove her, a move that drew the solidarity of several other contestants, who walked out in protest.
The fallout was swift. Raúl Rocha, president of the Miss Universe Organisation, strongly condemned Nawat’s behaviour, citing it as a violation of fundamental respect and dignity. Nawat apologised during a later welcome ceremony, albeit tearfully.
Just days before the final, composer Omar Harfouch resigned from the judging panel. He claimed that an “impromptu jury” had pre-selected the top 30 finalists, a process he said took place without input from the official eight-member panel.
Harfouch alleged conflicts of interest, calling the practice “dishonest.” Former footballer Claude Makélélé also withdrew, citing personal reasons.
The Miss Universe Organisation pushed back hard, saying no such irregular jury existed and reaffirming that all evaluations remained “transparent and supervised” under their established protocols.
Through the maelstrom, Fátima Bosch held her ground and secured the Miss Universe 2025 title. Her crowning moment was a testament to her resilience, but it was the drama behind the scenes that has dominated headlines.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh made a mark on the global stage unlike ever before. Tangia Zaman Methila, Bangladesh’s representative, advanced to the Top 30 in the Miss Universe competition. This is the furthest any Bangladeshi contestant has ever progressed in the pageant.
Methila, a model and actress, previously won the national title in 2020 but was unable to compete internationally due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. With her return in 2025, she has not only represented Bangladesh with pride, but also broken new ground.
Her journey has resonated deeply at home. According to reports, she placed fifth in global public voting, gathering over 73,000 votes, highlighting strong grassroots support.
