Photo Credit: Miss Universe 2025 FB
By Yong Soo Heong
What was meant to be a dazzling celebration of grace, global unity, and empowerment turned into a public spectacle of humiliation and protest.
At the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Bangkok, the world watched in disbelief as Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, was publicly insulted by a senior Thai pageant official.
She was allegedly called a “dumbhead” during a livestreamed sashing ceremony. A sashing ceremony is a formal event where each contestant is officially presented with her country’s sash, symbolising her role as a national representative in the pageant.
The fallout was swift and fierce: a mass walkout by contestants, a wave of online outrage, and a sobering reminder that beauty without dignity is no crown worth wearing.
This wasn’t just a slip of the tongue. It was a breach of respect, a failure of leadership, and a betrayal of the very ideals that pageantry claims to uphold.
When women from over 120 nations gather to represent their countries, they do so not merely to parade gowns and smiles — they come to embody intelligence, resilience, and cultural pride.
To belittle one of them in public is to insult them all. And that’s exactly what happened.
The incident, which took place on November 4, saw Bosch reportedly reprimanded for not posting promotional content on social media. But instead of a private conversation or professional feedback, the chairman of the Miss Universe Thailand Host Committee, Nawat Itsaragrisil, allegedly chose to shame her in front of peers and cameras.
Bosch, refusing to be demeaned, walked out. And in a powerful show of solidarity, many contestants followed.
This mass walkout wasn’t just a protest — it was a statement. It meant: “We are not props. We are not puppets. We are women with voices, and we will not be silenced.”
In a world where women are still fighting for equal respect in boardrooms, classrooms, and parliaments, the stage of Miss Universe should be a sanctuary of dignity — not a battleground for ego and control.
The irony is bitter. Pageants have long been criticised for objectifying women, yet in recent years, they’ve worked hard to rebrand themselves as platforms for advocacy, education, and empowerment.
Contestants today are lawyers, engineers, activists, and entrepreneurs. They speak on climate change, mental health, and gender equality.
But when the very organisers fail to treat them with basic respect, the entire enterprise collapses under its own hypocrisy.
Miss Mexico’s courage to walk out was not just personal — it was political. It reminded us that dignity is non-negotiable. That no sash or tiara is worth enduring public humiliation.
And that the true measure of a woman’s worth lies not in how she walks a runway, but in how she stands her ground.
The global reaction was telling. Social media erupted with support. Feminist groups applauded the contestants’ solidarity. Even Mexico’s president reportedly weighed in, defending Bosch’s dignity.
Meanwhile, Nawat, the man from Ratchaburi and known for his outspoken style and hands-on involvement in pageant operations, initially issued a denial. Then an apology, but the damage was already done. He claimed that he had meant to say “damaged” instead of “dumbhead”. Trust had been broken. The glitter had lost its shine.
So, what now?
If Miss Universe wants to retain its relevance, it must do more than crown a winner — it must crown a new culture. One that prioritises respect over ratings, empowerment over entertainment, and humanity over hierarchy.
Organisers must be held accountable. Protocols must be put in place to protect contestants from public shaming. And most importantly, the voices of the women on stage must be heard — not just when they’re answering final questions, but when they’re standing up for each other.
Because that ain’t no way to treat a lady.
In fact, it’s no way to treat anyone.
The Miss Universe stage should be a place where women rise — not where they’re torn down.
And if this year’s walkout teaches us anything, it’s that the true queens are those who refuse to be silenced, who walk out when dignity is denied, and who remind the world that beauty without respect is just a hollow crown.
WE