Mexico’s Fátima Bosch Claims Miss Universe Crown Amid Controversy

Fátima Bosch of Mexico was crowned the 74th Miss Universe on Friday in Bangkok, Thailand, bringing a dramatic end to a competition overshadowed by disputes, protests, and accusations of unfair play. Her victory came just two weeks after she briefly walked out of an official Miss Universe event in protest, following a public scolding by one of the pageant’s co-owners.

Bosch, 25, becomes the fourth Mexican woman to win the title. She entered the competition as a frontrunner, sharing the top spot in betting predictions with Thailand’s representative, Praveenar Singh. During the final question round, Bosch was asked how she would help create safe spaces for women. She replied that she would use her voice “in the power and service of others,” emphasizing that those who dare to stand up are the ones who “make history.”

Despite the pageant’s iconic status, Miss Universe has faced a steady decline in global viewership, though it continues to enjoy strong support in countries such as Colombia, Venezuela, and the Philippines. This year, however, attention shifted away from glamour and toward internal tensions, according to The New York Times.

Early in November, co-owner Nawat Itsaragrisil was seen on livestream reprimanding Bosch for missing promotional duties. When he called for security to escort her out, Bosch and several contestants walked out in solidarity, sparking widespread discussion.

The controversy deepened days before the final, when two judges resigned. Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French composer, stepped down claiming that organizers secretly used a second judging panel to choose finalists—an allegation Miss Universe officials denied. Another judge, former French football star Claude Makélélé, left the panel citing personal reasons.

Ownership of the Miss Universe Organization has shifted repeatedly over the past decades. Since 2023, it has been jointly owned by Thailand’s JKN media company and Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantu. Previously, the organization was owned by former U.S. President Donald Trump until 2015, and later by Endeavor before being sold to JKN in 2022.

As the 2024 competition closed with Bosch’s coronation, organizers announced that next year’s Miss Universe pageant will take place in Puerto Rico, as confirmed by Governor Jenniffer González-Colón in a video message during the show.