Miss Mexico Universe, Fatima Bosch, won Miss Universe 2025, while Miss Thailand Universe, Veena Praveenar Singh, was named first runner-up in the beauty pageant held in Bangkok today.
Bosch was at the centre of controversy with Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil after she led a dramatic walkout from a rehearsal event in protest against Nawat, who had scolded her in front of other contestants.
The second runner-up was Stephany Abasali from Venezuela, in fourth place was Ahtisa Manalo of the Philippines and fifth was Olivia Yacé from Côte d’Ivoire.
The controversy erupted during a livestreamed rehearsal, as Nawat appeared to single out Bosch for not attending a sponsor photoshoot, reportedly calling her “dumb.” He later denied using the term.
Footage showed Bosch leaving the room, accompanied by Miss Iraq, telling reporters outside: “The world needs to see this because we are empowered women and this is a platform for our voice.”
The confrontation quickly escalated into a feminist flashpoint, with other contestants hesitating to intervene, as Nawat warned that anyone wishing to continue in the competition should “sit down.”
The Miss Universe Organisation has since condemned Nawat’s behaviour, with its president Raul Rocha declaring that “the values of respect and dignity towards women must never be violated.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also voiced her support for Bosch, praising her composure and courage in standing up to the verbal attack by Nawat.
Meanwhile, Praveenar, the first runner-up, was the first Thai-Indian beauty queen to secure the Miss Thailand Universe title, doing so on her fourth attempt in the national pageant.
A graduate of Thammasat University, Veena had previously competed in the national pageant three times, placing second runner-up in 2018, first runner-up in 2020 and second runner-up again in 2023, before finally achieving national victory this year.
Born in Chiang Mai to Indian parents, she entered the 2025 competition as Miss Universe Saraburi. She spent part of her childhood with relatives in Yala province before pursuing her higher education in Bangkok, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts, majoring in Russian.
In February 2023, Veena made history as the first married contestant to compete in Miss Universe Thailand, after the global Miss Universe Organisation revised its rules in 2022 to allow married women, divorced women, mothers and members of the LGBTQ+ community to enter the competition.
