Miss Mexico Wins Miss Universe After Heated Walkout

Fátima Bosch Fernández of Mexico has won the coveted Miss Universe crown closing out perhaps the most controversial and widely discussed iteration of the pageant in recent history. Bosch, 25, went from storming out of the sashing event following public criticism by Thai director Nawat Itsaragrisil to claiming the title at the 74th edition of the competition. The moment of Bosch standing up for herself in front of cameras and fellow contestants went viral and gained huge traction online.

The confrontation developed when Nawat accused Bosch of not attending promotional activities and confronted her in a way that she later described as disrespectful. Bosch pushed back and walked out of the room, refusing to take what felt like a public humiliation to her. That was followed by several contestants, including last year’s winner Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark, and transformed the moment into a visible act of protest.

Miss Universe Rocked by Resignations and Accusations

The event this year Miss Universe began spiralling further out of control when two judges quit abruptly. Lebanese-French composer Omar Harfouch stepped down from the official jury, claiming people outside of the designated panel partook in a “secret vote” to determine the list of top contestants. He later stated that he was considering legal action, claiming emotional and reputational trauma. Not long after, former French football star Claude Makélélé also withdrew from judging, citing his departure to “personal reasons.”

The Miss Universe Organization denied Harfouch’s claims, stating there was no unofficial jury or spontaneous voting system. However, the resignations further underscored concerns that have followed the pageant since its inception: allegations of favoritism, and mismanagement of what is termed the overall “pageant industry,” and harassment.

Perhaps on-brand for this year’s pageant walkouts, Gabrielle Henry of Jamaica recently had to go to the hospital after she fell offstage during a preliminary event and was injured, international news outlets reported.

The BBC and The Associated Press reported that she is recovering and remains under observation.

A Symbol of a Broader Discussion About Women’s Voices

Bosch’s reaction to Nawat has reverberated well beyond the pageant. Notably, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum praised her for not being willing to remain quiet in the face of what she felt to be degradation. Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female head of state, highlighted Bosch’s reply as others watched a demonstration of women raising their voices and defending their rights in the public square.

Bosch eventually triumphed over Praveener Singh of Thailand, 29, first runner-up; and third-place winner Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser of Venezuela, 25. The pageant, founded in 1952 and formerly partly owned by Donald Trump, has struggled with declining viewership but growing accusations it mistreats women“In 2023, there were few actual detractors of the pageant, at least as expressed on social media,” Teo said. “It looks like pageant fans worldwide, and even non-pageant fans, took a liking to Miss Universe and the whole premise of a beauty contest.”

This year’s backlash adds to the long list of controversies the pageant endured, from Miss USA to rigging allegations and to even repeated harassment, yet Bosch’s journey from public chastisement to winner’s crown will be a symbolic far more powerful than all. For many viewers, her story is, to them, not just a personal showcase of triumph but a walk of dignity, fairness, and being a woman ready to not be silent if she feels she’s being degraded.