Nawat Itsaragrisil breaks down in tears after Miss Universe controversy

Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of Miss Grand International and executive director of Miss Universe in Thailand, became emotional and broke into tears during a press conference after a major controversy involving his insults toward Mexican contestant Fátima Bosch. The conflict began during a preliminary event of the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Bangkok, when Itsaragrisil publicly questioned Bosch for allegedly not cooperating with promotional activities for the host country. According to reports, the confrontation escalated until he called her “stupid” and “airhead,” and in the midst of the tension, he requested security to remove her from the room.

The incident sparked outrage among other contestants, with more than a dozen deciding to walk out of the event in solidarity with Bosch. In response, the president of the Miss Universe Organization, Raúl Rocha Cantú, announced that legal and corporate actions would be taken, describing Nawat’s behavior as disrespectful and contrary to the values of dignity and respect that the pageant upholds.

During his emotional remarks, Itsaragrisil claimed he had been misled into offering an apology, saying he agreed only because he was promised that there would be no consequences, yet later found himself restricted. He stated, “They tricked me into apologizing… After that, I couldn’t sleep,” expressing visible distress.

The executive also demanded respect for Thailand and for the event’s sponsors. According to him, those involved “have never respected the Thai sentiment,” adding a layer of national pride to his defense.

A public apology and official sanctions

His apology included emotional statements such as: “I’m human. I didn’t mean to do something like this.” However, the repercussions were immediate: the Miss Universe Organization issued sanctions against him, limiting his participation in pageant activities.

For many within the industry, the incident highlights internal tensions between franchises, the media pressure executives face, and the challenges of leading an international event where public image and respect must work hand in hand.

The episode has sparked a broader discussion about authority, leadership, and dignity in beauty pageants, and has made it clear that Itsaragrisil is experiencing one of the most difficult moments of his career.