Miss Universe Director Dismissed After Public Humiliation of Mexico’s Contestant

The Miss Universe 2025 pageant has been rocked by controversy after executive director Nawat Itsaragrisil was dismissed from his role following a disturbing incident involving Mexico’s contestant, Fátima Bosch. Sources say the confrontation occurred during a pre-pageant live session in Thailand, where Itsaragrisil repeatedly berated Bosch for allegedly refusing to participate in a promotional-shoot, calling her “dumbhead” and ordering security to remove her from the venue.

The remarks quickly went viral, prompting more than a dozen contestants to walk out of the event in solidarity with Bosch. The pageant’s president, Raúl Rocha Cantú, issued a statement condemning the behaviour, saying he would not allow the organisation’s values of respect and dignity toward women to be violated. Itsaragrisil’s participation in the remaining events of the contest has been effectively terminated.

After the backlash, Itsaragrisil issued two public apologies—once on Instagram and again in a press conference—claiming he “didn’t intend to harm anyone” and that the pressure had overwhelmed him. Critics, however, dismissed the apologies as insufficient, arguing the incident exposed deeper problems with power dynamics in international pageants.

The Miss Universe final is still scheduled to go ahead on November 21, 2025, but the event now proceeds under a cloud of controversy and increased scrutiny. With investigation and legal considerations underway, the incident may trigger broader reforms in pageant governance and contestant rights.

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