Miss Universe contestants walk out of live pre-sash ceremony
Miss Universe contestants walk out after Miss Universe Mexico Fátima Bosch is insulted during a live broadcast in Thailand.
The National Director of Miss Universe Thailand, Nawat Itsaragrisil, was dismissed after a tearful apology campaign proved not enough to stem a growing tide of criticism.
Itsaragrisil’s departure comes after an insult-laden argument with Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, whom he called “stupid.” The exchange forced him into a desperate, and ultimately futile, series of mea culpas, including a personal address to the entire contestant pool.
After users online and public figures rushed to show solidarity to Miss Mexico, who many felt had been publicly humiliated, the Thai executive came out to apologize.
The president of the pageant, Raúl Rocha, announced a series of sanctions, including restricting and almost completely excluding Itsaragrisil from the events of the 74th pageant. The decision was communicated Tuesday, Nov. 4, through a video posted on Miss Universe’s social media platforms. In it, Rocha, speaking in Spanish with English subtitles, left no questions about his position.
Miss Universe President expresses ‘Great indignation’
Rocha began his statement by expressing solidarity with the 122 delegates before criticizing Nawat’s actions.
“I will not allow the values of respect and dignity towards women to be violated,” he said.
He went on to express “great indignation towards Nawat for the public aggression he committed against Fátima Bosch, Miss Universe Mexico, whom he humiliated, insulted, and showed lack of respect to.” According to Rocha, the Thai director committed a “serious abuse by calling security to intimidate a defenseless woman.” With a direct and unequivocal message, he declared, “Nawat, you need to stop.”
Thai Miss Universe Executive apologizes, insists ‘I am human’
On his end, Itsaragrisil apologized publicly. The Thai executive appeared Nov. 5 at a press conference, tearfully expressing remorse about his actions.
“I am human. I didn’t want to do anything like that,” he told press. He also apologized to the delegates directly during a ceremony that same day.
“I want to take this opportunity to say something about something that’s happened. Because I am a human,” Itsaragrisil said. “I think you must understand the pressure is a lot, I am a human sometimes. I cannot control. By the way, I have not intend to hurt anyone.”
“I have to apologize for the delegates,” he added, turning to face the participants while bowing at them. Itsaragrisil also apologized to Miss Universe’s followers across the globe and anyone who was affected or felt uncomfortable by the situation.
Immediate sanctions for Thai Miss Universe exec and a break with the host organization
Following the scandal, Rocha detailed these immediate actions taken by the central organization:
- Postponement of events: The sash presentation ceremony was postponed “to avoid any interaction with Nawat.”
- Restriction of Itsaragrisil’s participation: “I have restricted Nawat’s participation in the events that are part of the 74th Miss Universe competition, limiting it as much as possible or eliminating it entirely.”
- Corporate and legal measures: He instructed Miss Universe Organization CEO Mario Bucaro to release a statement on behalf of the organization detailing “all legal actions they will undertake as a result of the malicious acts committed by Nawat.”
- On-the-ground intervention: A delegation of executives and diplomatic experts from the organization will travel to Thailand to take control of the situation and event.
Additionally, Rocha announced a disassociation with the local host organization, Miss Grand International: “We had, unfortunately, trusted” Miss Grand International “and that trust has failed under the unfortunate leadership of Nawat.”
“At Miss Universe, the values of respect and dignity for women are neither negotiable, and we differ strongly from MGI,” she continued.
A strong response following the wave of criticism
Rocha’s statement is the strongest response yet after the incident sparked an uproar on social media.
Miss Universe Mexico had previously characterized the events as “unacceptable” and, as her declarations and footage of the incident unfolded, the hashtag #FátimaBosch became a global trending topic. Along with online users, figures like Sheynnis Palacios, Miss Universe 2023, and Ximena Navarrete, a former Mexican contestant of the pageant and Miss Universe 2010, showed their support.
“Many people have questioned me about why I haven’t been present in recent years, and that’s because I don’t see things being done properly,” Navarrete said, adding that she hoped for Miss Universe to “be a respectful, elegant platform of inspiration and dreams… of empowered women with a voice, as it was many years ago.”
Lupita Jones, Miss Universe 1991 and former director of Miss Universe Mexico, and Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996, also responded to the controversy.
“These events represent the women of their time, of their era,” Jones wrote in an Instagram post. “It is not we women who adapt to what a competition defines; the competitions adapt to what we want to communicate, which is why they have evolved.”
Lina Luaces, Miss Universe Cuba 2025, and her mother Lili Estefan, popularly known for her participation as a host in Univision’s El Gordo y La Flaca talk show, have also signaled their support. Estefan, who was present during Bosch’s first declarations to the press after the incident, yelled “¡Bravo Fátima, bravo!”
The following day, the TV personality’s daughter posted to her Instagram story a video with music playing in the background, which pronounced, in Spanish: “What God has destined for you, neither envy can stop, nor fate can thwart, nor luck can change,” tagging her Mexican co-participant.
Mexican signer Gloria Trevi also joined the conversation by posting a photo of Bosch on her Instagram, accompanying it with a four-paragraph caption praising the Mexican contestant for her “authenticity” and “braveness.”
“I know what it’s like to be in the spotlight and feel the weight of criticism. That’s why, when I see someone like @fatimaboschfdz speaking out, I can only applaud her courage,” she wrote.
“Mexicans like you are inspiring, because you remind us that whoever bows their head to injustice loses the crown of their dignity; we must have the ability to say ‘enough’ when something is not right,” she concluded.
Bosch has insisted that she will remain in the competition, and is preparing along with the rest of the contestants for the final coronation on Nov. 21.
