A Miss Universe contestant has opened up after experiencing ‘disrespectful’ remarks from a beauty pageant organizer.
Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, 25, left a pre-pageant event earlier this month after being scolded by executive Nawat Itsaragrisil.
This incident was recorded in a Facebook Live video, which quickly spread online. In the footage, Itsaragrisil seemed to belittle Bosch, referring to her as a ‘dummy’, while Bosch responded: “You are not respecting me as a woman.”
As she exited, Bosch told Itsaragrisil: “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 organization.”
Several other contestants showed their support by following her out of the pageant.
Although the specifics of the dispute remain unclear, reports suggest that Itsaragrisil criticized Bosch for allegedly missing a promotional photoshoot, supposedly under her team’s advice.
After the event, Itsaragrisil insisted he had not called Bosch a ‘dummy’ but rather used the word ‘damage’.
Addressing the contestants, he stated: “I want to take this opportunity to say something about something that’s happened, because I am a human.”
“I think you must understand the pressure is a lot, I am a human sometimes. I cannot control. By the way, I have not intend[ed] to harm anyone because I respect all of you. I am so sorry it happened… If anyone was affected and not comfortable with what happened, I am so sorry.”
Nonetheless, Miss Universe Organization President Raúl Rocha subsequently declared that Itsaragrisil would be barred from participating in the 74th Miss Universe competition.
In a statement delivered in Spanish with English subtitles, Rocha said: “I have restricted Nawat’s participation in the events that are part of the 74th Miss Universe competition, limiting it as much as possible or eliminating it entirely.”
“I will not allow the values of respect and dignity towards women to be violated. [I have] great indignation towards Nawat for the public aggression he committed against Fátima Bosch, Miss Universe Mexico, whom he humiliated, insulted, and showed lack of respect to, [with] serious abuse by calling security to intimidate a defenseless woman.”
He added: “Nawat, you need to stop.”
In the aftermath, Bosch achieved the ultimate triumph by being crowned Miss Universe at the final event in Pak Kret, Thailand, on Friday, November 21.
She later issued a statement about the experience.
On Instagram, Bosch expressed [translated]: “Today I reaffirmed that what God has destined for you, neither envy stops it, nor destiny aborts it, nor luck changes it. Long live Christ the King.”