If the crown fits
An unexpected turn of events occurred at this year’s Miss Universe pageant as Nawat Isaragrisil, an executive member, was removed following a heated incident involving Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch. The announcement came from Miss Universe President Raul Rocha, who also hinted at further sanctions against Isaragrisil in a subtitled video shared online.
Rocha stated, “I have restricted Nawat’s participation in events tied to the 74th Miss Universe pageant, limiting it as much as possible or eliminating it completely.” This clarification came from an official post on the organization’s Instagram page.
Rocha expressed his strong discontent toward Isaragrisil for the “public attacks” against Bosch, describing them as “humiliation” and showing a blatant “lack of respect.” He emphasized the importance of upholding respect and dignity for women, firmly stating, “We will not allow this to be violated.” His message was clear: “Nawat, you better stop.”
In light of the situation, the presentation of the sash was delayed to “avoid any interaction” with Isaragrisil. Rocha also recommended that Mario Bucaro, the CEO of the Miss Universe Organization, address the matter, hinting that legal action might be a possibility due to Isaragrisil’s actions.
The event drew considerable attention when Isaragrisil confronted Bosch at the annual Taski ceremony, initiating a tense exchange that was broadcast on the Miss Universe Thailand Facebook page. During this encounter, Isaragrisil reprimanded the Mexican team for not participating in a sponsorship photo shoot, promptly asking, “Mexico, where are you?” before Bosch could respond. He further accused her of not supporting the event, culminating in him calling her a “dummy.”
Bosch stood her ground, replying, “Because I have a voice,” to which Isaragrisil retorted, questioning her need to speak up at all. The situation intensified when Isaragrisil directed security to remove Bosch from the event, leading numerous contestants to walk out in solidarity with her.
As contestants exited, Isaragrisil insisted they sit down, pleading for order. Later, in a post on Instagram, he expressed regret for “offending” viewers of the viral video that captured the incident. He mentioned the difficulties in managing the event amid daily occurrences that could distract from organizational goals and accepted some responsibility.
In a later press conference, tears in his eyes, Isaragrisil extended another apology. “I’m just a human being, and I didn’t want to go through that,” he said, acknowledging the unintended consequences of his actions. He also reassured the representatives that he never intended harm and expressed sorrow for any distress caused.
Looking ahead, the 2025 Miss Universe pageant is set to take place in Thailand on November 21.
