Who is Fatima Bosch? Once called ‘dumbhead’, Mexico beauty queen crowned Miss Universe 2025
The Miss Universe 2025 pageant, held in Thailand, ended with Fatima Bosch of Mexico emerging as the winner amid much controversy.
Representatives from 120 countries participated in the competition, which was hosted by American comedian Steve Byrne. Former Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig from Denmark crowned Bosch.
Fatima Bosch Fernandez, born on May 19, 2000, in Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico, openly addressed enduring bullying and struggling at school due to ADHD and dyslexia.
She began her pageant journey in 2018, winning the Flor de Oro crown in Tabasco, using her struggles as a source of strength. In September 2025, she won the Miss Universe Mexico crown, becoming the first woman from Tabasco to secure the title.
Bosch has used her platform to advocate for sustainable fashion, community engagement, and mental health. She is vocal about using recycled fabrics and emphasises the need for a social mission in fashion projects, which motivates her to design with discarded materials and convert waste into art with purpose. She has also spoken out against cyberbullying and is known for her love of animals.
Bosch studied fashion and apparel design at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico. She furthered her studies at Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan, Italy, and the Lyndon Institute in Vermont, USA.
In the Miss Mexico 2025 event, after she was announced the winner, many in the audience booed, and some contestants chanted "Jalisco won!" Many expected Miss Jalisco Yoana Gutiérrez to win the title. Only four contestants congratulated her on stage, prompting her to say, “I’d rather have four hugs from people I know genuinely care for me. Lorena, Fernanda Puma, Emiré, and Elena are queens in every sense of the word.”
In a pre-pageant meeting, the director of Miss Universe Thailand, Nawat Itsaragrisil, publicly reprimanded Bosch, seemingly calling her a "dumbhead" for not posting enough promotional content for Thailand. Bosch stood up against this insult, and he responded by calling security to escort her out of the room, leading some other contestants to walk out in solidarity.
Nawat denied the insult, insisting he had accused her of causing “damage”. After the Miss Universe Organization condemned Nawat’s remark and limited his role in the pageant, he apologised during a livestreamed welcome ceremony.
This year's Miss Universe ceremony was fraught with controversy. In addition to the incident involving Bosch, Alicia Machado faced backlash for racist remarks against Nawat. Furthermore, two judges resigned from the event days before the final ceremony, with one alleging that the competition was rigged.
Bosch's win brought the title back to Mexico five years after Andrea Meza's win in 2020.
“Believe in the power of your authenticity. Your dreams matter, your heart matters. Never let anyone make you doubt your worth,” Bosch said in her statement.
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