Imagine being told you're banned from something, only to find yourself right in the middle of it. That's the situation unfolding at Miss Universe, and it's raising some serious eyebrows. The director who publicly berated Miss Mexico was supposedly restricted from attending major events, yet photos prove otherwise. What's going on behind the scenes?
By Anneta Konstantinides
Remember to follow Anneta Konstantinides for more updates!
November 20, 2025
- Miss Universe director Nawat Itsaragrisil's outburst towards Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, sparked outrage online.
- In response, Miss Universe President Raul Rocha declared Itsaragrisil would be restricted from future events at the 2025 pageant.
- Despite this announcement, Itsaragrisil has been spotted at numerous Miss Universe events, happily posing with contestants and members of the leadership team.
Following the viral video of Miss Universe director Nawat Itsaragrisil's harsh words towards Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, the Miss Universe organization seemingly took swift action. But here's where it gets controversial: despite promises of restriction, it appears to be business as usual for Itsaragrisil.
On November 4th, the very day of the confrontation between Itsaragrisil and Bosch, Miss Universe president Raul Rocha delivered a six-minute speech on Instagram, labeling Itsaragrisil's behavior as a "serious abuse." He stated emphatically, "I have restricted Nawat's participation in the events that are part of the 74th Miss Universe competition, limiting it as much as possible or eliminating it entirely."
And this is the part most people miss... Rocha's words carried significant weight, promising a clear consequence for Itsaragrisil's actions.
However, despite these strong statements, Itsaragrisil has been actively participating in numerous Miss Universe events leading up to the grand finale, and has photographic evidence to prove it. In fact, on the eve of the finals, Itsaragrisil himself posted pictures on Instagram showing him smiling and posing alongside Raul Rocha. The finale, by the way, will be streamed in the US on Peacock at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Neither Miss Universe nor Itsaragrisil have responded to requests for comment on this apparent contradiction.
A Confrontation Heard Around the World
To recap, Itsaragrisil is not only the director of Miss Thailand but also the host for the 74th annual Miss Universe competition. The incident occurred during a meeting with the Miss Universe contestants on the first day of the pageant. Itsaragrisil reportedly became embroiled in a heated argument with Fátima Bosch, accusing her of not fully participating in a sponsorship event. Sponsorship events are crucial, as they help fund the pageant and provide opportunities for the contestants.
The exchange, captured on Miss Universe Thailand's Facebook livestream, revealed Itsaragrisil criticizing Miss Mexico's team before seemingly telling Bosch, "If you listen to your director, you're a dumbhead." This comment, of course, immediately drew widespread criticism.
Itsaragrisil, who has a history of publicly shaming pageant contestants, later claimed that the word he actually used was "damage." But this explanation did little to quell the outrage.
During the argument, Bosch bravely stood her ground, telling Itsaragrisil, "I have a voice. You are not respecting me as a woman." Her words resonated with many who felt that his behavior was unacceptable.
The situation escalated further when Itsaragrisil attempted to call security on Bosch. In a show of solidarity, multiple Miss Universe contestants – including Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjær Theilvig – walked out of the room in protest. This walkout underscored the widespread disapproval of Itsaragrisil's actions.
Miss Universe Responds
President Raul Rocha didn't mince words in his video statement. He stated that the organization planned to take corporate and legal actions "as a result of the malicious acts committed by Nawat."
Rocha further emphasized his commitment to upholding ethical standards, adding, "I will not allow the values of respect and dignity toward women to be violated."
Rocha also announced that he had instructed Miss Universe CEO Mario Búcaro to "travel immediately to Thailand and take control" of the pageant, citing a loss of trust in Itsaragrisil.
Turning his attention directly to the contestants, Rocha offered words of encouragement and empowerment: "None of you should ever allow incidents like this to happen in your life, no matter who they come from. We must always defend this principle."
The following day, a tearful Itsaragrisil offered an apology during a press conference, telling reporters, "I am human. I didn't want to do anything like that."
Is It Business as Usual?
Despite Rocha's strong condemnation and promises of restriction, photographic evidence suggests that Itsaragrisil has been actively involved in a number of the pageant's most prominent events.
He was photographed at the Miss Universe swimsuit fashion show on November 14th, posing alongside CEO Mario Búcaro and Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjær Theilvig. The following night, Itsaragrisil was seen at a gala dinner, photographed with Miss Universe contestants and members of the leadership team. He was also captured standing onstage with Búcaro as the CEO delivered a speech. Furthermore, Itsaragrisil attended the November 19th national costume contest and preliminary competition, where he posted the pictures of himself and Rocha on Instagram.
Adding another layer of intrigue, Omar Harfouch, an original judge for the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, claimed to have played a role in reconciling Itsaragrisil and Rocha.
Harfouch stated, "I reached out to both Raul and Nawat with the idea that unity between pageant leaders could only strengthen the global pageant community. I offered to mediate a respectful meeting. We sat together, shared ideas, and I believed, for a moment, that bridges were being rebuilt."
On November 17th, Harfouch posted a video of Itsaragrisil and Rocha's reunion on Instagram. However, the very next day, he withdrew as a judge, alleging that the organization had conducted a "secret vote" to select the top 30 contestants by "individuals who are not official members of the jury, myself included." This allegation raises serious questions about the integrity of the selection process.
Miss Universe responded to Harfouch's allegations in a statement shared on its Instagram on November 18th, claiming that Harfouch was mistaken about the organization's recent announcement of a selection committee for the pageant's "Beyond the Crown Program." They described this program as an "independent social impact initiative" designed to promote the contestants' charitable causes.
Amidst all of the chaos and controversy, there are still 120 women diligently hoping to become the next Miss Universe. After weeks of intense competition, one of them will soon be crowned.
What do you think? Was Raul Rocha's response adequate? Should Nawat Itsaragrisil have been allowed to continue participating in Miss Universe events? And how does all of this affect the integrity of the competition? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
