The 2025 Miss Universe pageant has been rocked by controversy following the dismissal of Nawat Itsaragrisil, a key executive, after a heated confrontation with Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, during the sashing ceremony. The incident, which was broadcast live, has sparked widespread criticism and raised questions about Itsaragrisil’s leadership. During the ceremony, Itsaragrisil accused Bosch of failing to promote Thailand, called her a ‘dumbhead,’ and ordered security to remove her. This led to several contestants walking out in solidarity with Bosch. Miss Universe president Raúl Rocha announced the decision to restrict Itsaragrisil’s involvement in the competition, stating, ‘We had, unfortunately, trusted MGI, and that trust has failed under the unfortunate leadership of Nawat.’ Itsaragrisil later issued a tearful public apology during the opening ceremony, acknowledging the pressure he was under but insisting he did not intend to harm anyone. However, his comment, ‘Are you happy?’ directed at the candidates, particularly Miss Mexico, who did not applaud, was seen as dismissive by body language experts. The pageant is still set to proceed on November 21 in Thailand, but the fallout from this incident continues to dominate discussions.
