Miss Universe Mexico, Fátima Bosch, was crowned Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand, marking the fourth title for her country. Her victory, however, quickly became a focal point for controversy, drawing both applause and criticism over the pageant’s integrity. Pre-event activities had already faced scrutiny.
A key figure in the controversy is French-Lebanese pianist and entrepreneur Omar Harfouch. He was a judge but resigned days before the final. Harfouch cited alleged irregularities in the voting process.
He stated publicly that he could not legitimize a vote in which he never participated, calling it dishonest. Following Bosch’s win, Harfouch further escalated his claims. He specifically accused Miss Universe CEO Raúl Rocha of pressuring him to vote for Bosch.
Harfouch claimed Rocha told him, “They pressured me a week ago in Dubai to vote for Fátima Bosch, because they need her to win, because it will be good for our business.” This accusation was reported by Inquirer.
Raúl Rocha swiftly refuted Harfouch’s allegations in a post-pageant appearance. He showed journalists a screenshot of a conversation with Harfouch. The message indicated Rocha was upset about Harfouch ruining a philanthropic project, stating, “I will cancel you… we were talking about Beyond the Crown. Our philanthropic program for social benefit that has been worked on for a whole year, and you have ruined this project with your unfortunate message.” This exchange was circulated by Pageant Talk.
Rocha also dismissed Harfouch’s statements during an interview on Telemundo’s Hoy Día. He suggested Harfouch’s comments were an attempt “to get two minutes of fame.” Rocha stressed the importance of defending the organization’s values and vision.
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) issued its own press release addressing the “erroneous” comments. The MUO firmly denied any improvised jury or external groups evaluating candidates. It affirmed that all contest evaluations followed established and transparent protocols. The organization respectfully acknowledged Harfouch’s resignation.
Adding to the debate, Natalie Glebova, Miss Universe 2005 and a judge for the 2025 pageant, voiced her concerns. She highlighted the absence of an auditor on stage to validate results. Glebova recalled that in previous years, an auditor from an accounting firm always presented sealed results.
Glebova expressed a desire to reinstate this practice. She also declared her intention not to participate as a judge again until an auditor is present.
Despite the controversies, Fátima Bosch received warm congratulations from the other candidates on stage in Thailand. Her mother, Vanessa Ferbal, also spoke proudly of her daughter’s achievement. Ferbal noted her daughter’s journey from insecurity to becoming Miss Universe.