Miss Universe 2025 Walk Out Just the Latest Controversy for Troubled Pageant
Several Miss Universe 2025 contestants walked out of a pre-pageant event that was being livestreamed on Facebook on Tuesday. The incident was just the latest in a string of controversial moments for the troubled organization, which has battled bankruptcy, major pageant snafus, and more in recent years.
Why did Miss Universe pageant contestants walk out?
The November 4 walk-out occurred during a tense confrontation between contestants and Miss Universe pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil, People reports. During a meeting with this year’s delegates, Itsaragrisil called Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch a “dummy” for not participating in a planned photo shoot.
Bosch stood up and tried to defend herself, telling Itsaragrisil that he wasn’t “respecting” her “as a woman.”
Itsaragrisil responded by calling security. As Bosch left the auditorium, several other contestants followed, as well as the reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark.
Miss Universe president Raúl Rocha responded to the headline-making incident in a video shared on Instagram. He said that Itsaragrisil had “forgotten the true meaning of what it means to be a genuine host” and that he wanted to make clear his “great indignation” for the “public aggression” toward Bosch.
In a separate statement, the Miss Universe organization confirmed that this year’s pageant would take place as planned on November 21.
The face-off with Miss Mexico is the latest in a string of bad press for Miss Universe and its affiliated pageants. Here are some of the major Miss Universe controversies through the years.
Miss Universe files for bankruptcy
In 2023, the owner of the Miss Universe pageant filed for bankruptcy just days before that year’s event. JKN Global Group, was facing “liquidity problems” one year after it was purchased by Thai media mogul Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip the BBC reported, While the pageant went on as scheduled, Thai regulators were taking a closer look at JKN Global Group. In 2024, a 50% stake in the company was sold to Cantú’s Legacy Holding Group USA Inc. In October, Jakrajutatip stepped down as CEO following fraud charges filed by Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission, the International Business Times reported.
The Donald Trump era
Donald Trump was the co-owner of the Miss Universe pageant (as well as the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants) from 1996 to 2015. His time as the head of the company has since come under scrutiny, including his hobnobbing with Russian elites at the 2013 pageant in Moscow, his demeaning comments about 1996 Miss Universe winner Alicia Machado, and accusations that he’d barged into the dressing rooms of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA contestants while they were changing. In 2015, he was forced to sell Miss Universe after a falling out with co-owner NBC over his controversial remarks on immigration.
Steve Harvey makes a major flub
In 2015, the Miss Universe pageant was in the news for all the wrong reasons thanks to a major gaffe by comedian Steve Harvey. The Family Feud host mistakenly announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez as the winner. Harvey soon realized his mix-up, and as Gutiérrez celebrated her win on stage, he had to awkwardly step in and reveal that the real winner was Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach.
Miss Universe 2002 dethroned
Miss Universe is more than just a title – it’s a full-time job. The reigning titleholder is expected to travel the world as she represents the organization. That commitment proved to be too much for 2002 winner Oxana Fedorova of Russia. After just four months as Miss Universe, she was dethroned because of her failure to live up to her responsibilities; first runner-up, Miss Panama Justine Pasek, took over as the new Miss Universe. It’s the only time in the pageant’s history that a titleholder has lost her crown.
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