The tumultuous events surrounding this year’s Miss Universe pageant, which concluded with Mexico’s Fátima Bosch Fernández being crowned as the winner, have continued to escalate despite the competition’s end last week. Miss Universe Haiti, Melissa Queenie Sapini, expressed concerns about underlying issues within the pageant in a statement to the media on Wednesday.
Sapini’s remarks coincide with ongoing controversies surrounding the 2025 Miss Universe event held in Bangkok, culminating in Bosch’s victory. Prior to this, the competition faced various challenges, including a Thai organizer’s contentious remarks towards Bosch, judges withdrawing from their roles amidst allegations of vote manipulation, a fake drug controversy, and a contestant falling off the stage.
The Miss Universe universe is embroiled in turmoil, raising questions about the future of the 74-year-old pageant amidst debates on the relevance and empowerment of beauty pageants. Post the winner’s announcement, several contestants have relinquished their titles, with Miss Jamaica still hospitalized following her stage fall.
Additionally, arrest warrants have been issued for two co-owners of the pageant in Thailand and Mexico. The organization’s president, Raul Rocha, has expressed frustration and an intention to sell his stake amid the ongoing controversies.
Despite the upheaval, the Miss Universe Organization claims record-breaking viewership for this year’s event, garnering significant attention from audiences worldwide. Not since Steve Harvey’s infamous mix-up in 2015 has the pageant received such extensive media coverage.
Contestants have further added to the drama by renouncing titles and voicing concerns about transparency and ethical standards within the competition. Miss Universe Portugal and Miss Haiti have publicly criticized the organization, hinting at deeper issues within the pageant.
The controversies have taken a legal turn with arrest warrants issued for pageant co-owners in Thailand and Mexico, raising serious questions about the integrity and future of the Miss Universe brand. Despite the challenges, there is an opportunity for the organization to address participant concerns and potentially undergo a significant transformation for the better.