Several contestants from the Miss Universe 2025 pageant staged a walkout in protest after Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, was publicly humiliated by Thai pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil during a pre-pageant event.

The incident unfolded when Itsaragrisil accused Bosch of failing to participate in the promotional activities for the pageant. The confrontation, which was captured on a live stream, saw the director single out Bosch, calling her “dumb” for not posting about Thailand, the host country.

He claimed that Bosch had been instructed by her national director not to engage in any promotion for the host nation.

“You don’t want to post about Thailand because your director from Mexico told you not to? If that’s the case, you’re dumb,” Itsaragrisil said, adding that as a businessman, he had the power to demand compliance.

When Bosch attempted to speak up, Itsaragrisil shut her down, telling her to remain silent and be respectful. Fátima Bosch, visibly upset, responded by saying that the director was not treating her with respect as a woman. At this point, Itsaragrisil called for security to remove her from the room, which left the other contestants stunned.

In solidarity with Fátima Bosch, several participants, including reigning Miss Universe Denmark, Victoria Kjær Theilvig, stood up and walked out in protest.

As the contestants left, Itsaragrisil reportedly told them: “If anyone wants to stay, sit down,” but his words did little to quell the protests.

In a video statement afterward, Bosch addressed her supporters, saying: “I’m not afraid to speak up. I’m here to be a voice for all the women and girls who fight for what they believe in. I came to stand up for women’s rights, and I am fully committed to this cause.”

Victoria Kjær Theilvig, who also walked out, explained her actions by saying: “This is about respect for women. Insulting another contestant is simply unacceptable, and I would never support that. That’s why I walked out.”

The Miss Universe Organization responded swiftly, with president Raúl Rocha Cantú issuing a statement denouncing the incident. The organization stressed that the principles of respect and dignity for women would always be upheld, and any behavior that violated these values would not be tolerated.

The incident has sparked widespread conversation about the treatment of women in pageantry, highlighting the need for greater respect and fairness within the industry.

Fátima Bosch: