Fatima Bosch breaks silence

Miss Universe 2025 Fatima Bosch has finally spoken publicly about the storm of allegations and hostility that has followed her since winning the crown — and she is standing her ground with unwavering clarity.

In her first major sit-down interview, featured on ABC’s Nightline, Bosch opened up about the whirlwind of events that overshadowed what should have been a celebratory start to her reign. Calling her win “a dream come true,” she also acknowledged how quickly triumph turned into turbulence, particularly after a tense incident involving Miss Universe Thailand’s national director, Nawat Itsaragrisil.

Bosch recalled the moment she walked out of a pre-sash activity after what she described as a humiliating encounter.

“He wanted like to humiliate me in front of all the people. And that was not okay. I told him, like, you can’t talk me like that. You can’t call me dumb. I was scared at that time,” she said.

“I couldn’t stay quiet, because in every case, your dignity is more important than any price or any dream that you have,” she continued.

Her decision to leave prompted several candidates to follow — a moment that caught global attention. Itsaragrisil has since apologized.

Vote-rigging allegations

In the days leading up to the finals, pageant judge Omar Harfouch resigned, accusing organizers of pre-selecting 30 finalists and calling for Bosch’s disqualification. The Miss Universe Organization denied the claims, but Harfouch’s statement fueled a wave of online controversy.

Bosch, however, responded with pointed humor:

“Well, my response to them and to him was that if maybe he wanted like, more followers on Instagram, he should, like, I don’t know, get into a show, a TV show, maybe,” she told the host.

Critics also questioned whether Bosch’s victory was linked to her father, an oil executive said to have ties with the Mexican co-owner of the pageant, Raul Rocha Cantú. Bosch dismissed the claims outright.

“They make, like, this campaign of hate. My father has nothing to do with the organization,” she said. “And it’s crazy. How are you going to buy a crown? Maybe in Walmart, you can buy a crown, yeah. But not in Miss Universe, for sure.”

Despite the backlash, Bosch made one thing absolutely clear: she is not relinquishing the crown.

“I’m not here for fame or modeling or certain husbands. I’m here because God put a purpose on my heart. I have a mission, and I will do that all year to serve others,” she declared.

Speaking out against hate

Bosch recently revealed the extent of the vitriol she has received, sharing screenshots of hate messages on Instagram Stories and posting a statement in Spanish addressing the hostility.

“These are some of the messages I have received these last days. What must there be in a person’s heart to wish harm to someone they don’t even know? Thank God my values and self-esteem are strong, and this doesn’t break me,” she wrote.

Her message ended with a powerful reminder of why she chooses to speak up:

“A woman who, like millions in the world, has lived in her own flesh the violence that is born from hate, from misinformation, and from the inability of some to see a woman shine without feeling threatened.”