The Miss Universe 2025 pageant is set to culminate on November 21, overcoming a series of controversies that have dominated headlines. The event, which began with a tumultuous sashing ceremony on November 4, has seen significant public and media attention. The incident involved Thai director Nawat’s heated confrontation with Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, leading to her walkout alongside several other contestants, including reigning Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig. The Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) swiftly responded by suspending Nawat and bringing in CEO Mario Bucaro to stabilize the proceedings.
Amidst the drama, Belize’s representative, Isabella Zabaneh, has emerged as a strong contender, garnering widespread support from Belizeans globally. Zabaneh’s potential to break Belize’s decades-long absence from the top ranks—since Sarita Diana Acosta’s Top 12 finish in 1979—has sparked excitement. However, her wardrobe choices, particularly her comment about the lack of women’s guayaberas, stirred local debate. A local guayabera shop owner publicly disputed her claim, leading to a social media backlash that culminated in an apology and the announcement of the shop’s closure.
The pageant’s preliminary events, including the Swimsuit Fashion Show in Pattaya and the upcoming National Costume event in Bangkok, have kept the spotlight on the contestants. As the final show and coronation approach, all eyes are on whether Zabaneh can make history for Belize and whether the pageant can successfully move past its rocky start.