November 20, 2025 | Bangkok

The days leading up to the 74th Miss Universe pageant have turned into an unexpected storm of drama, walk-outs, resignations, and public apologies. What was supposed to be a glamorous run-up to the world’s biggest beauty contest quickly shifted into controversy after a heated exchange between Miss Universe Mexico, Fatima Bosch, and Miss Universe Thailand director, Nawat Itsaragrisil.

The clash began during a pre-event gathering where Bosch was reportedly confronted for not sharing enough promotional posts about Thailand, this year’s host country. Bosch tried to explain her side, but the argument escalated to a point where she chose to leave the venue. A few contestants, including Denmark’s Victoria Theilvig, followed her out in solidarity. This didn’t sit well with Itsaragrisil, who warned that anyone who walked out might face disqualification. His comments triggered backlash across social media, with many accusing him of unprofessional behaviour and harming Thailand’s reputation as host.

The tension didn’t stop there. Fans online drew attention to previous complaints about his management style. Itsaragrisil also owns the Miss Grand International pageant, where India’s Rachel Gupta gave up her title in 2024 alleging a “toxic environment.” The new controversy only added fuel to ongoing conversations about how contestants are treated behind the scenes.

Seeing the uproar, Raul Rocha, president of the Miss Universe Organisation, released a video condemning Itsaragrisil’s conduct. He announced that senior executives, including CEO Mario Bucaro, would travel to Thailand to address the issue. Soon after, Itsaragrisil held a press conference where he broke down in tears while apologising. He repeated his apology again later at a welcome event for all 122 contestants, saying he was sorry if any participant felt uncomfortable and expressing gratitude for Thailand being chosen as the host nation.

Just as things seemed to be calming down, another wave of controversy hit the event. Judge and composer Omar Harfouch resigned three days before the final, alleging that the top 30 contestants had already been unofficially chosen before the preliminary rounds. He claimed that a “secret committee” was influencing the results and suggested possible conflicts of interest, including alleged personal relationships between contestants and members of the selection group.

Moments later, another judge, French football icon Claude Makélélé, also announced his withdrawal without specifying the reason. His departure added more chaos to an already tense environment.

The Miss Universe Organisation strongly denied all accusations of rigging. It stated that no unauthorized jury exists and that all judging follows transparent procedures. The organisation has also banned Omar Harfouch from any future association with the Miss Universe brand or its trademarks.

Amid all the noise, Miss India 2025, Manika Vishwakarma, is set to represent the country with hopes of making it to the top. The global audience can watch the pageant live on the official Miss Universe YouTube channel on November 21 at 6:30 am IST.

With emotions high and allegations swirling, all eyes are now on the final night—hoping the spotlight returns to the contestants rather than the controversies surrounding them.

Inside The Miss Universe 2025 Chaos: Walk-Outs, Quitters, Accusations And A Tearful Apology

The Miss Universe 2025 lead-up has turned into a whirlwind of drama that no one saw coming. What should have been a smooth celebration of global beauty and culture shifted into heated arguments, walk-outs and emotional apologies. It all started when Miss Mexico was confronted for not posting enough promotions for the host country. The situation escalated quickly, leading her to walk out, with a few contestants following in support. This move sparked threats of disqualification from the Thailand director, turning the atmosphere tense and uncomfortable.

As criticism grew online, the Miss Universe Organisation stepped in, publicly calling out the behaviour and sending top executives to Thailand to calm the situation. A tearful apology from the Thailand director followed, but the chaos didn’t end there. Two judges stepped down just days before the final, with one claiming the results were already influenced by a secret committee. The organisation denied the claims, but the controversy added even more uncertainty around the event.

Despite the noise, the contestants continue to prepare for the big night. Everyone now waits to see if the final event can shift the conversation back to what truly matters.