Mexican Beauty Queen Wins Miss Universe Amid Drama

Fátima Bosch, a 25-year-old from Mexico, won the Miss Universe title in a competition filled with drama and controversy. The event was not smooth sailing, with incidents happening before and during the pageant. The trouble started with a heated argument between Bosch and Nawat Itsaragrisil, the pageant's director at the time. During a livestreamed event, Itsaragrisil publicly criticized Bosch for not participating in promotional activities. Bosch stood up to defend herself, but Itsaragrisil called security to remove her. Several other contestants, including the reigning Miss Universe, left in solidarity. Bosch later spoke to the media, saying she was called "dumb" and felt unfairly treated. She emphasized the importance of empowering women and using the pageant as a platform for their voices. Itsaragrisil apologized the next day, saying he was under a lot of pressure. The drama didn't end there. Two judges quit just before the pageant, with one alleging that the competition was rigged. Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French composer, claimed a secret vote was held to pre-select contestants. The Miss Universe Organization denied these allegations, stating that all evaluations followed established protocols. During the preliminary events, Miss Jamaica fell off the stage and was taken to the hospital. She did not compete in the finals but was reported to be in stable condition with no broken bones. In the final round, Bosch was asked how she would use her title to create a safe space for women. She responded by saying she would use her voice to make a difference and stand up for what is right. Her win was praised by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who commended Bosch for speaking up against injustice. The Miss Universe Organization has seen multiple ownership changes over the years, including a period under former President Trump. Currently, it is jointly owned by a Thai media company and a Mexican company.