BANGKOK, Nov 6 — What began as a glittering pageant in Bangkok has spiralled into one of Miss Universe’s biggest controversies yet complete with walkouts, public apologies, and a police raid over alleged gambling promotions.
The drama first erupted on Tuesday during the Sashing Ceremony when Miss Universe Mexico Fatima Bosch reportedly stormed out after a heated exchange with Nawat Itsaragrisil, the outspoken chairman of the Miss Universe Thailand Host Committee and CEO of Miss Grand International.
Footage circulating online showed Nawat arguing with Bosch before she left the room, followed by reigning Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Thelvåg and several others.
“If something costs you your dignity, you need to walk away,” claiming Nawat had called her “dumb,” Bosch later shared on her Instagram account in Spanish.
The Miss Universe Mexico organisation swiftly condemned the incident as “unacceptable,” saying “no woman, under any circumstance, deserves to be insulted or humiliated.”
Amid the uproar, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) stepped in, vowing that the 74th edition of the competition would continue as planned and promising to uphold its values of “diversity, empowerment, and inclusion”.
In a video statement, MUO president Raúl Rocha Cantú said Nawat’s role would be “restricted or eliminated entirely”.
“The decision came after he became the centre of attention instead of the contestants, humiliating and insulting a defenseless woman.
“No one has the right to harm or intimidate a woman, much less one representing her nation on our stage,” he said.
Nawat hit back, denying that he called Bosch “dumb” as she alleged, and insisting that MUO had “no authority to limit his work.”
“We are the licence holder. Everything must run according to business operations. He posts first and asks questions later — that causes confusion among contestants,” he was quoted by Thai news outlet Khaosod English as telling local media.
But Nawat also acknowledged that he may have lost his temper.
“Sometimes I lose control. If I made mistakes, I apologize to Miss Mexico. I may have been too angry, but I had no intention to diminish her,” he was quoted as saying by Khaosod English.
Tensions appeared to ease after all contestants attended a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River, but the peace didn’t last long.
Online casino promo scandal?
Just as pageant fever began to recover, Thai police launched an investigation after a Filipina contestant was seen in a promotional video holding a pillow emblazoned with the logo of an online gambling website — an act illegal under the kingdom’s law.
According to another Thai news outlet The Thaiger, hotel staff in Bangkok’s Charoen Krung area alerted authorities when the clip surfaced on official Miss Universe channels. Officers from Wat Phraya Krai Police Station arrived, seizing the gambling-branded pillow and filming equipment, and questioning organisers, including Nawat.
Speaking to reporters after his interrogation, Nawat said he was unaware of the promo beforehand and blamed the MUO’s Mexican-based team, led by co-owner Raúl Rocha Cantú.
He said that the same team had previously proposed an online casino as a potential sponsor, which he “firmly rejected” as it would be “strictly illegal under Thai law and could damage the country’s reputation as the host.”
Nawat also claimed the Mexican team “went ahead with the illegal promotion regardless.”
The Miss Grand International Public Company Limited later issued a statement distancing itself from the scandal.
“The promotion was carried out solely by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO). Miss Grand International had no involvement whatsoever with such activities”.
Thai authorities have since opened an international legal review into the case.
The show goes on — for now
Despite the chaos, MUO confirmed all contestants remain in competition and that “all scheduled events and activities will continue in full cooperation with the host country.”
The 74th Miss Universe competition runs from November 2 to 21, with events across Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya, and the grand coronation set for November 21 at Impact Muang Thong Thani.
Whether the crown shines brighter than the controversy this year remains to be seen.
