Among the countless mechanisms of sexual manipulation and manipulation against women that our society drags, beauty contests are one of the clearest examples. And yet, this time, the most powerful of them, Miss Universe, is experiencing a revolution: the models, out of dignity, have stood up against the attack on one of their companions. It is not a total plant, but it denotes that something is moving.
Let’s go with the case: it happens that in the 2025 edition – which is being held this month in Bangkok (Thailand) with representatives from 122 countries and territories -, one of the organizers of the contest has insulted the representative of Mexico, the young Fátima Bosch. This is the director of the pageant in Thailand, Nawat Itsaragrisil, hired by the Miss Universe organization as a producer. This Thai businessman – owner of Miss Grand International (MGI), which competes against Miss Universe in the world of beauty pageants – is being criticized for having called the Mexican delegate “dumb” in an official activity, a moment that has gone viral on social networks.
As you can see, in one of the ceremonies prior to the contest itself, Itsaragrisil reprimanded Bosch in front of dozens of contestants for not having published promotional content. When she questioned Nawat about his words (“I know which side is right and which side is wrong,” he told her), he called security and threatened to disqualify those who supported Bosch. She left the room along with other contestants, who did so as a sign of solidarity upon hearing the insult to her partner and the order given.
While many of the models stood up to show their support for Bosch, Nawat still said, microphone in hand and in a thuggish tone: “If someone wants to continue with the contest, let them sit down. If they leave, the other girls continue.” Despite this, in the video you can see how the majority of the women remained standing and several headed towards the door. A gesture of sorority.
Among those who left the event on Tuesday was the reigning Miss Universe, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, of Denmark. “This is about women’s rights,” she declared as she left the event. “That’s not how things should be handled. Insulting another woman is a huge lack of respect. That’s why I take my coat and leave.”
“This is about women’s rights. This is not how things should be handled. Insulting another woman is a huge lack of respect. That’s why I take my coat and leave.”
After leaving Tuesday’s event, Bosch told reporters that the 60-year-old executive was “not respectful” and had called her “dumb.” Nawat denied this, claiming that her words had been misinterpreted and that the Mexican had caused “damage” to the organization and the event.
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has condemned the “malicious” behavior of the Nawat, who later apologized given what had occurred. In a video posted on social media, Nawat declared: “If anyone feels bad, uncomfortable or affected, I apologize to everyone. In particular, I apologize to the girls who were present, about 75.”
The Mexican Embassy in Thailand assured through Facebook that it maintains contact with the candidate and her family to provide them with the appropriate advice, without going into details.
The Miss Universe contestants, winners of the national pageants in their respective countries, attended Tuesday’s event wearing their sashes and dresses, hoping that there were no more incidents. The winner will be crowned the new Miss Universe on November 21.
The sea in the background
In a video statement, the MUO president, who happens to be Mexican Raúl Rocha, claimed that Nawat had “forgotten the true meaning of being a real host.” Rocha reported that the Thai official had humiliated, insulted and disrespected Bosch, and that he had committed the serious abuse of calling security to intimidate a defenseless woman. He also assured that Nawat’s participation in the pageant would be limited as much as possible or eliminated completely, and indicated that the Miss Universe Organization would take legal action against her. “I wish to reiterate that Miss Universe is a platform of empowerment for women, so that their voices are heard in the world,” said Rocha.
In statements to EFE, the Thai said, however, that MUO, without warning them, took posters showing the name of an online casino to the hotel where the candidates were staying and where police officers went in search of those responsible. In front of journalists, the police allegedly took a Miss Universe worker to the police station, without further details being known so far.
Before the arrival of the Police, MGI and MUO had had a war of communications in which they threatened legal action due to differences regarding the holding of a dinner chaired by Nawat and his proposal that the public vote for their candidates to choose the 10 with the most popular support.
The Miss Universe team assures that this activity is not authorized and that these votes will not affect the result of the pageant, while Nawat insists that it is part of the agreement with MUO.
Later, candidate Bosch declared in an interview: “I have not seen the networks, I have not had the chance to see anything because we are in activities, but I just want to tell my entire country that I am here, I am not afraid to raise my voice. I am here stronger than ever. I have a purpose, I have things to say, I have spaces to worry about.”
“We are in the 21st century, I am not a doll to be doing makeup, hair or changing clothes. I came to be a voice for all women and all girls who fight for causes”
“We are in the 21st century, I am not a doll to be doing makeup, combing her hair or changing her clothes, I came here to be a voice for all women and all girls who fight for causes, and tell my country that I am completely committed to this, like day one, and as long as there is Miss Universe, Mexico has a representative. I love them very much,” she adds.
“We look prettier when we raise our voices”
Her words have been notably applauded in Mexico, where the case has been followed with much indignation, to the point that its president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has spoken out, just the day she herself was groped. In her opinion, the representative of her country is “an example” of how women should raise their voices. “My recognition is that she experiences this aggression and very dignifiedly says: ‘I do not agree’. And it seems to me that it is an example of how women should raise their voices,” said the Mexican leader.
The president took the opportunity to reflect on the stereotypes that have historically limited the participation of women in public life, and recalled a common phrase with which many were educated. “I say later in public events that, look at the phrase, this is what they told us women, right? Well, I don’t know if anyone here said it to my colleagues, but they did tell me. Fortunately not my family. But they did say to me: ‘you look prettier by being quiet,'” she commented.
The president stressed that the true beauty of women lies in their ability to express themselves and defend their rights. “So, not that. And in public events, I say, women look prettier when we raise our voices and participate. Because that has to do with the recognition of our rights. So, my recognition to this young woman,” she said.
