The 74th Miss Universe pageant concluded with a controversial, but triumphant ending for Mexico's Fátima Bosch on Friday in Bangkok, Thailand. The event, which reportedly drew widespread flak after being mired in several controversies during the lead-up, resulted in Bosch defeating over 100 other global contestants to take home the crown. Thai-Indian Praveenar Singh was named the first runner-up. India's representative, Manika Vishwakarma, concluded her run after reaching the Top 12 round.
Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark, the 73rd Miss Universe, crowned the winner at the pageant finale. Bosch brings glory to Mexico five years after Andrea Meza won the crown in 2020.
This pageant was marked by a series of scandals, which have raised a question on the relevance of such competitions in current times.
Earlier this month, the pageant’s Thailand director, Nawat Itsaragrisil, yelled at Miss Mexico at a pre-pageant event.
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During a meeting with Miss Universe contestants on November 4, Itsaragrisil, who was named the host of the 74th Miss Universe competition in Bangkok, told off Bosch, accusing her of not participating in a promotional event for the beauty pageant.
Bosch, who hails from Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico, has a deep compassion and empathy for animals. She was diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD, and hyperactivity, but learned to transform these obstacles into her strengths. Bosch pursued a degree in Fashion and Apparel Design at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, and later furthered her studies at NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan, Italy. Passionate about sustainable fashion, she now creates designs that give new life to discarded materials, blending artistry with purpose.