Two weeks ago, Fátima Bosch of Mexico walked out of an official Miss Universe event in protest after she was scolded by an organizer. On Friday, she walked across the stage as the 74th winner of one of the world’s most prestigious beauty pageants.
Her coronation on Friday marked the end of two weeks of competition that were marred by accusations that it was rigged and rare protests by contestants, including Ms. Bosch.
Ms. Bosch, 25, is the fourth Mexican woman to become Miss Universe. She was heavily favored to win the competition, tied in the betting markets with Praveenar Singh of Thailand.
During the pageant’s final round in Bangkok on Friday morning, a judge asked Ms. Bosch how she would create a safe space for women as Miss Universe.
“I will put my voice in the power and the service of others,” she said. “The brave ones that stand up are the ones that will make history.”
Despite its recognizable brand, Miss Universe has struggled with declining interest from audiences and broadcasters who pay licensing fees. The pageant still enjoys a sizable following in countries like the Philippines, Venezuela and Colombia, which are considered powerhouses for Miss Universe winners.
But this year’s competition started drawing unwanted attention in early November. Nawat Itsaragrisil, a Thai businessman who co-owns the Miss Universe Organization, was seen on a livestream harshly reprimanding Ms. Bosch for not participating in some promotional activities. When Mr. Nawat called security to escort Ms. Bosch out, she and several other contestants stood up and left the room.
And earlier this week, two judges quit. Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French composer, resigned earlier this week, accusing the organizers of having a second panel of judges to select the finalists in secret. The organization denied the claims. The other judge, former soccer star Claude Makélélé from France, said he stepped down because of personal reasons.
The Miss Universe Organization has been jointly owned by JKN, a Thai media company, and Raul Rocha Cantu, a Mexican businessman, since 2023. It has changed owners multiple times in the past three decades, including President Trump, who owned it from 1996 until 2015, and Endeavor, the American talent agency, who sold it to JKN in 2022.
Next year’s pageant will be in Puerto Rico, Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón said in a video announcement during the competition on Friday.
Francesca Regalado is a Times reporter covering breaking news.
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