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Miss Universe Defends Reign Amidst Controversy and Allegations of Interference
despite facing a storm of criticism and accusations of impropriety, newly crowned Miss universe, Fátima Bosch of Mexico, remains resolute: she earned her title and has no intention of relinquishing it. Ten days after her November 20th victory, Bosch is pushing back against claims of a rigged competition and defending herself against online harassment.
Bosch, 25, addressed the swirling controversies in a recent interview with journalist Jessica Carrillo for Telemundo’s ‘Al Rojo Vivo,’ firmly stating, “of course not, because I deserve this crown and this sash. The reality is that many things can be said, but there is only one truth: I made the same effort as all my classmates, I made the same commitment and we passed the same tests… And I won. Why would I give up something I worked for?”
The pageant,the 74th edition of Miss Universe,has been plagued by allegations of irregularities as its preliminary stages. The situation escalated with the resignation of several judges, including Omar Harfouch, a Franco-Lebanese pianist who publicly accused the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) of pressuring him to favor Bosch. “I cannot stand in front of the public and the cameras trying to legitimize a vote in which I never participated, it would be dishonest,” Harfouch wrote on his social media channels.
Harfouch further alleged that MUO CEO Raúl Rocha specifically pressured him in Dubai to vote for the Mexican contestant, claiming it was “as they need her to win, because it will be good for our business.” Rocha vehemently denied these accusations during an appearance on Hoy Día (Telemundo), dismissing Harfouch’s statements as a bid “to obtain two minutes of fame.” The MUO itself issued a firm response, characterizing Harfouch’s comments as “erroneous” and affirming that all evaluations adhered to “established, transparent and supervised protocols.”
The controversy didn’t end there. Additional resignations followed, including miss Ivory Coast and Miss Estonia, as well as other judges and delegation directors, fueling further speculation and a harsh backlash on social media. Bosch herself became a target of online bullying, prompting her to address the attacks directly on Instagram.
“Today I wont to raise my voice not as a beauty queen, but as a woman,” she wrote in a post. “A woman who, like millions in the world, has experienced firsthand the violence that is born from hatred, misinformation and the inability of some to see a woman shine without feeling threatened.” She continued, framing her victory not as a source of contention, but as a symbol of female resilience: “My victory is not a threat. My victory is a reminder that women are resilient, capable and powerful. We are not here to meet other people’s expectations, we are here to transform the world.”
Bosch, originally from Teapa, secured Mexico’s fourth Miss Universe crown, notably wearing a red outfit – a color that has become a lucky charm for the nation in the competition. She triumphed over representatives from Ivory Coast, the Philippines, Venezuela, and Thailand, who was named the first runner-up.
Despite the intense scrutiny, Bosch remains focused on her platform. She clarified that her participation in Miss universe was driven by a desire to champion “philanthropy and social causes
