The world has a new queen, and her journey to the crown was anything but ordinary. The Miss Universe 2025 winner has officially been named, bringing a dramatic conclusion to the 74th edition of the pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand.
In a spectacular finale that aired live from the Impact Arena on November 20 in the United States (November 21 local time), the coveted title was awarded to Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch. The 25-year-old humanitarian and volunteer bested a field of over 100 contestants to take home the “Force for Good” crown, succeeding the reigning queen, Victoria Kjær of Denmark.
While the evening celebrated the theme “The Power of Love,” the road to victory for the new Miss Universe 2025 winner was paved with backstage tension, viral confrontations, and high-stakes resignations that shook the organization to its core.
A Historic Win for Mexico
Fátima Bosch’s victory marks a significant milestone for her country. She becomes the fourth woman from Mexico to hold the title, and the first since Andrea Meza’s reign in 2020.
Bosch dazzled the selection committee through the traditional rounds of swimwear, evening gowns, and the high-pressure final interview. However, it was her resilience off-stage that seemingly captured the hearts of fans worldwide. During the final moments of the broadcast, Bosch stood hand-in-hand with the first runner-up, Miss Thailand Veena Praveenar Singh, before host Steve Byrne announced Mexico as the champion.
The Top 5 Finalists included:
- Winner: Fátima Bosch (Mexico)
- 1st Runner-up: Veena Praveenar Singh (Thailand)
- 2nd Runner-up: Stephany Abasali (Venezuela)
- 3rd Runner-up: Ahtisa Manalo (Philippines)
- 4th Runner-up: Olivia Yacé (Côte d’Ivoire)
Overcoming Bullying: The Viral Backstage Confrontation
The narrative surrounding the Miss Universe 2025 winner shifted dramatically weeks before the finale. In early November, reports and livestream footage surfaced of a heated altercation between Bosch and Nawat Itsaragrisil, a prominent executive director within the pageant organization.
During the annual sashing ceremony, Itsaragrisil publicly berated Bosch for allegedly refusing to participate in a social media content shoot. In a moment that went viral, the executive was heard calling the Mexican delegate a “dummy.”
Unlike previous contestants who might have stayed silent to protect their standing, Bosch fired back. “I still keep talking to everybody, why do you still stand up to talk to me?” Itsaragrisil asked her during the livestream.
Bosch’s response became an instant rallying cry for her supporters: “Because I have a voice. You are not respecting me as a woman.”
The situation escalated when security was called to remove her, but not before Bosch delivered a final, powerful statement: “As women, you need to show respect for us. I’m here representing a country, and it’s not my fault that you have problems with my organization.”
This incident sparked a mass walkout led by Bosch, which included dozens of fellow contestants and even the outgoing Miss Universe, Victoria Kjær Theilvig, in a show of solidarity. Following the backlash, Itsaragrisil was dismissed from his duties, clearing the path for Bosch to take the stage and eventually claim the title.
Jury Resignations and “Secret Vote” Allegations
The drama was not limited to contestant interactions. The selection committee itself faced a major shakeup just days before the broadcast. Two high-profile judges resigned, casting a shadow over the integrity of the preliminary selection process.
Omar Harfouch, a Franco-Lebanese businessman and composer, publicly quit the jury, leveling serious accusations against the Miss Universe Organization. Harfouch alleged that the “Top 30” semifinalists had been selected via a “secret vote” by an unauthorized internal group, rather than the official jury.
“I could not stand before the public and television cameras, pretending to legitimize a vote I never took part in,” Harfouch stated in a press release. “Viewers would assume the jury made these decisions, and I cannot bear responsibility for a process I did not participate in.”
Simultaneously, former French footballer Claude Makélélé resigned. While he did not corroborate the “secret vote” theory, he posted a vague statement on Instagram citing “unforeseen personal reasons” for his inability to attend.
The Miss Universe Organization vehemently denied Harfouch’s claims. In a statement released on Tuesday, they clarified: “The Miss Universe Organization firmly clarifies that no impromptu jury has been created… and that all competition evaluations continue to follow the established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols.”
The New Selection Committee
Following the abrupt departures, the organization scrambled to finalize a panel of judges to select the Miss Universe 2025 winner. The final telecast featured a diverse group of experts, including:
- Andrea Meza: Miss Universe 2020 and Telemundo host.
- Sharon Fonseca: Venezuelan model and actress.
- Ismael Cala: Cuban broadcaster and writer.
- Romero Britto: Brazilian artist.
- Saina Nehwal: Indian badminton star.
- Natalie Glebova: Miss Universe 2005.
- Miniyothabo Francisca Baloyi: Zimbabwean colonel.
- Louie Heredia: Filipino singer.
Scares on the Runway: Miss Jamaica’s Fall
The preliminary competitions were not without physical perils. In a frightening moment during the evening gown round on Wednesday, Miss Jamaica, Dr. Gabrielle Henry, fell from the runway. Witnesses described her “face-planting” into the crowd, necessitating her removal on a stretcher.
While she was hospitalized and absent from events the following day, pageant owner Raul Rocha took to Instagram to reassure fans that Henry did not suffer any broken bones. Her determination highlighted the physical and mental grueling nature of the competition.
The United States Connections
Interestingly, this year’s roster featured a high number of contestants with deep ties to the United States. Due to Miss Universe rules regarding citizenship, residency, and lineage, six different women with U.S. backgrounds competed for different territories.
This group included Miss USA Alana Jones (who competed under the name Audrey Eckert in some preliminary lists), Miss Latina Yamilex Hernández, Miss Ecuador Nadia Mejía, Miss Cuba Lina Luaces, Miss Nicaragua Itza Castillo, and Miss Poland Emily Reng. All were either born in the U.S., based there, or represented communities with significant U.S. diasporas.
Full List of Placements
The competition was fierce, whittling down over 100 hopefuls to the final crown. Below is the comprehensive breakdown of the night’s standings.
Top 12 Finalists
These women advanced past the swimsuit round to compete in evening gowns:
- Thailand: Veena Praveenar Singh
- Côte d’Ivoire: Olivia Yacé
- Mexico: Fátima Bosch (Winner)
- Philippines: Ahtisa Manalo
- Venezuela: Stephany Abasali
- Guadeloupe: Ophély Mézino
- China: Zhao Na
- Colombia: Vanessa Pulgarín
- Cuba: Lina Luaces
- Puerto Rico: Zashely Alicea Rivera
- Malta: Julia Cluett
- Chile: María Ignacia Moll
Top 30 Semifinalists
The night began with the announcement of the Top 30, a diverse group representing every corner of the globe:
- India: Manika Vishwakarma
- Dominican Republic: Jennifer Ventura
- Brazil: Maria Gabriela Lacerda
- Rwanda: Solange Tuyishime Keita
- Netherlands: Nathalie Yasmin
- Bangladesh: Tangia Zaman Methila
- Japan: Kaori Hashimoto
- USA: Audrey Eckert
- Zimbabwe: Lyshanda Moyas
- Costa Rica: Mahyla Roth
- Canada: Jaime VandenBerg
- Latina: Yamilex Hernández
- Croatia: Laura Gnjatović
- Guatemala: Raschel Paz
- Palestine: Nadeen Ayoub (Making history as the first Miss Palestine)
- Nicaragua: Itza Castillo
- France: Ève Gilles
- Paraguay: Yanina Magali Anahí Gómez Ojeda
- (Plus the Top 12 listed above)
How the Night Unfolded
The 74th Miss Universe competition was hosted by comedian Steve Byrne, who kept the energy high despite the preceding weeks of controversy. He was joined by commentary hosts Dayanara Torres (Miss Universe 1993) and R’Bonney Gabriel (Miss Universe 2022), who provided expert insight into what the judges were looking for.
For U.S. viewers, the pageant aired on the Roku Channel, Telemundo, and Peacock, with the Spanish-language broadcast led by Danilo Carrera, Jacqueline Bracamontes, Carlos Aydan, and Jessica Carrillo.
The production at the Impact Arena utilized state-of-the-art lighting and sound to bring the “Power of Love” theme to life, contrasting sharply with the internal strife the organization faced.
What Comes Next for the Winner?
As the new Miss Universe 2025 winner, Fátima Bosch will relocate to New York City, where the Miss Universe Organization is headquartered. Her reign will likely be defined by her advocacy work and her refusal to be silenced—a trait she demonstrated even before the crown was placed on her head.
With the “Force for Good” crown now resting on her, Bosch is expected to travel the globe, working with various philanthropic organizations. However, her immediate next step will likely be navigating the press tour as the woman who stood up to the organization’s executives and won it all.
The 74th Miss Universe pageant will be remembered not just for the glamour, but for the resilience of its contestants. In a year marked by resignations, falls, and fights, Fátima Bosch emerged as a symbol of strength, proving that a true queen fights for respect as hard as she fights for the crown.
