Miss Universe Contestants Walk Out After Dispute with Pageant Executive
Several Miss Universe contestants left a pre-pageant event following a confrontation between Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch and executive Nawat Itsaragrisil on Tuesday.
Conflict Over Promoting Host Country
The incident began when Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch refused Nawat Itsaragrisil’s request for all contestants to promote the host country, Thailand, on their social media channels. Itsaragrisil warned,
“You are in Thailand. You are in a game.”
Escalation During Photo Shoot Disagreement
The tension grew as Itsaragrisil reprimanded Bosch for not participating in a photo shoot about Thailand. He insisted she verbally confirm her willingness to share promotional posts, saying,
“I heard you’re not going to support everything about Thailand.”
When Bosch tried to explain her stance, Itsaragrisil accused her of siding with the Miss Mexico directors rather than his Miss Universe team in Thailand and called her a “dummy.”
Stand Off and Protest
After telling Bosch to sit down, Itsaragrisil questioned why she remained standing. Bosch replied,
“Because I have a voice. You’re not respecting me as a woman.”
A group of contestants protested vocally when Itsaragrisil ordered security to remove Bosch. As she left, Bosch told him,
“As women, you need to show respect for us.”
Summary
This incident reveals tensions surrounding cultural promotion and respect within the Miss Universe pageant, highlighting important issues of representation and gender respect.