Nawat Itsaragrisil sorry for Miss Universe fiasco, claims he didn’t call Miss Mexico ‘dumb head’

Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil has issued an apology for the controversy he caused during Miss Universe 2025’s annual sashing ceremony on Nov 4 in Bangkok, Thailand, ahead of the international beauty pageant’s finals on Nov 21.

The 60-year-old Thai businessman was seen publicly reprimanding Miss Universe Mexico 2025 Fatima Bosch in front of all the contestants, calling the beauty queen “a dumb head” for allegedly being unable to fulfil a sponsored shoot.

Mr Nawat, who is the chairman of the Miss Universe Thailand Host Committee and a vice-president for Asia and Oceania within the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), subsequently apologised at the 74th Miss Universe welcoming ceremony on the night of Nov 5. The event was live-streamed on YouTube channel GrandTV.

He went on stage and addressed the audience members and contestants, saying: “I’m so sorry (the past events) happened. I did not intend to harm anyone because I respect all of you.”

Saying that he was under “a lot of pressure”, he added: “I am a human. Sometimes, I cannot control... If anyone isn’t comfortable with what has happened, I am so sorry.” 

He then faced all 130 of the Miss Universe 2025 contestants and bowed to them.

Mr Nawat also clarified at a press event that he did not call Bosch, 25, a “dumb head”, and the clip was shared on Pageant Trend’s Facebook account on Nov 5. Pageant Trend is a Philippines-based social media platform that promotes beauty pageants.

“I didn’t say ‘dumb head’ even one second... I said ‘damage’,” he claimed.

Bosch has since earned the support of Miss Universe title-holders Sheynnis Palacios and Andrea Meza after the public humiliation.

His behaviour prompted Bosch, some fellow contestants and the reigning Miss Universe 2024, Denmark’s Victoria Theilvig, to walk out of the event.

The incident was live-streamed on Facebook on Nov 4, and earned mixed reactions on social media, with many pageant fans calling out MUO for not fostering a positive environment for this year’s delegates.

After the tense exchange, during which Mr Nawat even called for security to escort Bosch out of the venue, the beauty queen retorted on camera: “As women, you need to show respect for us. I’m here representing a country, and it’s not my fault that you have problems with my organisation.”

Bosch later took to her social media pages, saying that his remarks were “disrespectful”. She wrote: “I believe the world needs to hear and see this because we are all empowered women. If something costs you your dignity, you need to walk away.”

MUO president Raul Rocha subsequently released a video on Nov 5 denouncing Mr Nawat’s actions and criticised his “malicious acts” against Bosch.

“I would like to make it clear my great indignation towards Nawat for the public aggression he committed against Fatima Bosch,” Mr Rocha said.

He added: “Nawat humiliated, insulted, and he showed a lack of respect, in addition to the serious abuse of having called security to intimidate a defenceless woman, trying to silence and exclude her.”

As the official host, Mr Nawat has “the obligation to serve (Miss Universe delegates), assist them and support them, and to ensure they have a unique life experience filled with kindness and courtesy”, Mr Rocha said.

He added that he was sending newly elected chief executive of MUO Mario Bucaro to Thailand to oversee the remainder of the pageant events, limiting Mr Nawat’s participation in the competition “as much as possible or eliminating it completely”.

MUO issued a statement later in the evening, saying that Miss Universe activities will continue as planned.

Prior to the most recent public apology, Mr Nawat apologised for his outburst in a TikTok Live after the incident and clarified the situation.

He acknowledged that there might have been some confusion in their communications about expectations. He also said he was not able to hear Bosch clearly during the live-stream event, leading to the heated exchange when he told her to sit down.

He said: “If anyone (was not) feeling good, if anyone (was) not comfortable... I do apologise (to) everyone.”

Not the true essence of Miss Universe

The drama caught the attention of Palacios, Meza and former Miss Grand International 2024 Rachel Gupta, who expressed their fury over the matter on their respective Instagram accounts on Nov 5.

In a lengthy statement in English and Spanish, Palacios, 25, said the recent “surprises” involving Miss Universe go against its purpose of “celebrating women with a voice and purpose”.

“Some of the values that should guide Miss Universe – respect, dignity, gender equality and transparency – are now being questioned,” added the 2023 title-holder from Nicaragua.

“It is not acceptable for a woman to be insulted or publicly disrespected under the spotlight of an international pageant that claims to promote the voice, talent and dignity of women. Pageants should be platforms for empowerment, inspiration and leadership. When dynamics of power, humiliation or disrespect arise, that purpose is betrayed,” she added.

“One thing I am completely certain of is that this is not the true essence of Miss Universe. I believe the organisation will take the necessary steps to realign with what we all know and love about Miss Universe.”

Dignity and respect never negotiable

Meanwhile, Meza, 31, reshared the clip of Mr Rocha admonishing Mr Nawat.

“Dignity and respect are never negotiable,” wrote the Mexican Miss Universe 2020 winner in Spanish.

Gupta, 21, shared an old clip of herself cutting ties with the Miss Grand International organisation – where Mr Nawat serves as the president and founder – while calling him out for disrespecting women.

“If this can be said in a room of a hundred people, imagine what he said behind closed doors,” wrote the Indian beauty queen on her Instagram Stories, drawing from her own experience.

“So much love and respect to the strong women who stood up for themselves and walked out with integrity.”

Gupta and Mr Nawat had a tumultuous relationship in the past, as both had conflicting accounts over the relinquishment of her title.

While she claimed she resigned due to allegations of “mistreatment and disrespect” by Miss Grand International, he accused her of being unable to fulfil her duties. The crown eventually went to first runner-up CJ Opiaza from the Philippines.

Miss Universe Singapore 2025 Annika Sager also weighed in on the fiasco.

Writing on her Instagram Stories on Nov 5, the 25-year-old said: “In a world where women continue to strive for equality and recognition, we must insist on environments built on mutual respect, where our voices matter as much as our presence.”

She added: “We deserve to be uplifted, not undermined. We deserve the freedom to express our convictions with integrity and compassion. Let us remember that true empowerment is rooted not in imposed silence, but in shared dignity.”