Photo Credit:Showbiz
The director of the Miss Universe 2025 Thailand competition, Nawat Itsaragrisil, broke down in tears during a public apology after a highly charged confrontation with Mexico’s delegate, Fátima Bosch, at a pre-pageant event on November 4. The incident, streamed live, has shocked the pageant world and raised concerns about procedure and respect in the competition.
During the orientation, Itsaragrisil criticized Bosch for what he claimed was a refusal to participate in a promotional shoot for Thailand. He challenged her in front of all the contestants, asking pointedly why she was not posting as required and addressing her directly: “Mexico, where are you?” The tension escalated when he called her a “dummy,” prompting Bosch to defend herself, stating she was more than a decorative figure and asserting her right to speak. When she stood to leave, security was called, and more than a dozen contestants joined her in a walk-out in protest of the treatment of Bosch.
Following the backlash, Itsaragrisil appeared at a press conference on early this week visibly emotional. “I am human. I didn’t want to do anything like that,” he said. He apologized to Bosch, the other contestants and the public, acknowledging the incident had caused discomfort and promising to learn from his mistake. He added that his intent was never to harm anyone and that he respected all the delegates.
The fallout from the Incident has been swift. The Miss Universe Organization president, Raúl Rocha Cantú, denounced Itsaragrisil’s conduct as unacceptable, pointing out themhumiliation and intimidation experienced by Bosch and the others. He announced that Itsaragrisil’s role in the pageant would be significantly limited moving forward and that oversight would be increased ahead of the pageant finale on November 21 in Thailand.
For Bosch’s part, she addressed the media after the event, declaring that she is “not a doll to be made up, styled and changed,” and emphasised her commitment to being a voice for women and girls. She voiced how the public exchange had left her feeling disrespected and highlighted the issue of power dynamics within the pageant industry.
