Mexico has officially claimed the Miss Universe 2025 crown, delivering an emotional victory in a pageant marked by glamour, global unity — and unprecedented controversy.

Fatima Bosch, a 25-year-old humanitarian, emerged as a fan favourite despite facing public humiliation earlier in the competition.

In a dazzling finale held in Bangkok, Thailand, Mexico’s Fatima Bosch outshone finalists from around the world to win the 74th Miss Universe title. She was crowned by reigning Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark.

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The top placements were:

Winner: Mexico (Fatima Bosch)
1st runner-up: Thailand (Praveenar Singh)
2nd runner-up: Venezuela (Stephany Abasali)
3rd runner-up: Philippines (Ahtisa Manalo)
4th runner-up: Côte d’Ivoire (Olivia Yacé)

This year’s pageant featured a record 120 contestants representing countries from around the world, celebrating themes of empowerment, representation, and resilience.

Fan favourite amid storm of controversy

Bosch’s journey to the crown was marked by a live-streamed incident in which Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil berated her for not posting enough promotional content. He allegedly called her a “dumbhead” — a claim he denies — saying he only accused her of causing “damage.”

When Bosch stood up for herself, Nawat called security to remove her from the room. In solidarity, multiple contestants walked out, igniting a global backlash.

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Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the treatment as an “aggression,” praising Bosch for handling the situation with “dignity.” The Miss Universe Organization later limited Nawat’s role and issued a formal condemnation. He publicly apologized during a ceremony.

The scandal also triggered a second wave of backlash when Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996, made racist remarks during an Instagram live, referring to Nawat as “that despicable Chinese” and making derogatory gestures. She later came under intense criticism online.

Judge resignations and rigging claims

The controversies mounted when two judges resigned days before the finale.

Omar Harfouch, a composer, stepped down claiming the pageant was “rigged,” alleging a secret panel had pre-selected the top 30 contestants. Miss Universe officials rejected the claims, calling them a “mischaracterization” of their transparent judging process.

A second judge, former French footballer Claude Makélélé, also withdrew, citing “unforeseen personal reasons” while expressing respect for the organization.

Top 30, national costumes, standout moments

The finale, hosted by American comedian Steve Byrne, opened with a performance by Thai singer Jeff Satur. The 120 contestants were filtered down to 30, then 12 after the swimwear round, and ultimately the top five following the evening gown segment.

Contestants were asked questions on global issues, including what topic they would address at the UN General Assembly and how they would use the Miss Universe platform to empower young girls.

Bosch delivered one of the night’s defining messages: “Believe in the power of your authenticity. Your dreams matter, your heart matters. Never let anyone make you doubt your worth.”

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The three-week pageant included cultural tours, rehearsals, charity work, and Thailand-wide events.

In the national costume showcase, Miss USA Audrey Eckert drew attention with an elaborate bald eagle costume by designer Simon Villalba.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Gabrielle Henry suffered a frightening fall during preliminaries and was carried away on a stretcher. Miss Universe President Raul Rocha later confirmed she had not broken any bones and was receiving proper care.

Earlier, Miss Universe Pakistan 2025, Roma Riaz, spoke out against trolls who labelled her “dark,” “heavy,” and “not pretty.”

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In an Instagram video, she said her skin tone represents the soil and the women of Pakistan, and that she proudly embraces her identity without hesitation. Riaz added that she anticipated such backlash, as she is among the first dark-skinned women to represent Pakistan on the global stage.

Representation milestones

A historic first came when Nadeen Ayoub became the first woman to represent the Palestinian people at Miss Universe. She advanced to the top 30 semifinalists before being eliminated.

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Thailand — the host country — remains one of the world’s biggest beauty pageant hubs, alongside the Philippines, boasting enormous fan engagement and a thriving pageant industry.