The Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand was supposed to be a dazzling global celebration of beauty, culture, and empowerment. Instead, it ended in one of the most chaotic and controversial finales in the pageant’s recent history.
When Fatima Bosch of Mexico was crowned the winner at Impact Muang Thong Thani, the arena erupted - not in applause, but in loud, angry chants of “cooking show!” from fans who believed the results were fixed.
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The tension became immediately visible. Thailand’s Veena Praveenar Singh finished as first runner-up, Venezuela’s Stephany Abasali took second place, Ahtisa Manalo of the Philippines placed third, and Cote d’Ivoire’s Olivia Yace rounded out the top five. Yet while the winners stood smiling on stage, the audience was far from celebrating.
‘Cooking Show’: A Slang That Says It All
The phrase “cooking show,” widely heard in the arena and echoed online, is pageant slang for a rigged or “pre-cooked” result. In other words, fans were accusing the Miss Universe Organisation of having already decided the winner long before the final question-and-answer segment. This term - familiar among long-time pageant followers - captured the frustration and disbelief spreading across social media within minutes.
A Former Judge Drops a Bombshell
Adding fuel to the fire, Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French musician and former Miss Universe 2025 judge who resigned days before the finale, made stunning allegations. Harfouch claimed he had informed HBO America 24 hours before the coronation that Mexico would win - not because of her performance, but due to alleged business ties between Raul Rocha Cantu, a Mexican tycoon and major shareholder of the Miss Universe Organisation, and Fatima Bosch’s father. The other co-owner is Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip of JKN Global Group from Thailand.
According to Harfouch, Rocha and his son allegedly met him in Dubai to request his support for Mexico, purportedly saying that “it will be good for our business.” Harfouch insisted that the full story will be revealed in an HBO documentary slated for release in May next year - an announcement that has only intensified suspicions among fans.
Harfouch stated that he may proceed with legal action against the organisation, claiming he waited to see whether Miss Mexico would win - and once she did, he vowed to seek justice for the contestants, particularly the 106 countries he says were unfairly eliminated by a mysterious “impromptu jury” just three days before the show.
Chaos and Confusion Inside the Venue
Thai entertainer DJ Matoom, who livestreamed the event, described the crowd as “heated, confused, and overwhelmingly dissatisfied,” noting that Filipino fans in particular were furious. As tensions rose, he joked, “Let me end this live before someone throws a shoe,” highlighting just how emotionally charged the room had become.
Meanwhile, long-time pageant organiser Nawat Itsaragrisil - who earlier sparked controversy and later apologised after allegedly calling Miss Universe Mexico 2025 a “dumbhead” before the event - posted a cryptic message after the show:
“Ten billion words I cannot say. We did our very best.”
His remark has sparked even more speculation, with pageant communities dissecting every word, wondering whether he was hinting at internal disagreements, pressure, or something deeper.
A Crisis of Credibility?
The uproar surrounding Miss Universe 2025 now raises uncomfortable questions: Was the result truly predetermined? Why did judges resign just before the finale? And how much influence do business interests have over what is marketed as a fair global competition?
While the Miss Universe Organisation has yet to issue a detailed clarification, one thing is clear: the credibility of the pageant has taken a major hit. With online debates raging and a documentary on the horizon, this controversy is far from over - and the world will be watching closely as more pieces of the story unfold.
By: Kpost
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