Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum delivered a sharp dismissal of the widespread rumor that her government intervened or paid to secure the Miss Universe 2025 title for Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch Fernández, calling the suggestion "ridiculous."
In a press conference held amid intense global scrutiny of the pageant's integrity, Sheinbaum was directly asked whether she or any part of her government had purchased the Miss Universe competition to create a political distraction. Her response was unequivocal.
"Ay, it's simply ridiculous," she said. "Evidently no, it is false, but furthermore, one should not pay attention to such things."
Sheinbaum's emphatic denial addresses the most politically damaging aspect of the controversy: the claim that public funds were used to buy a global title. While the Miss Universe Organization President Raúl Rocha has also publicly stated the MUO is a 100% private organization and receives no public funding, the rumors of a financial fix have persisted since the coronation last week.
The Crown and the Claims of Corporate Fraud
Fátima Bosch Fernández, a 25-year-old from Tabasco, was crowned Miss Universe 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, achieving a fourth title for Mexico. Miss Thailand, Praveena Singh, and Miss Venezuela, Stefany Abasali, finished as the first and second runners-up, respectively. However, the victory was immediately overshadowed by detailed claims of fraud, shifting the celebratory mood to one of skepticism.
The most damaging allegations came from French-Lebanese composer Omar Harfouch, who resigned abruptly from the judging panel just three days before the final, later labeling Bosch a "fraudulent winner". Harfouch claimed the result was fixed, alleging that the Miss Universe owner, Raúl Rocha, was "in business with Fatima Bosch's father" and that Rocha had personally met with him to "urge" him to vote for Bosch because "they need her to win, because it will be good for our business".
Furthermore, Harfouch raised serious procedural alarms about the fairness of the competition. He alleged that the 30 semifinalists were pre-selected by an "impromptu jury" or "secret vote" that included individuals with potential conflicts of interest and was conducted without the presence or knowledge of the eight official judges, including himself. Harfouch stated he could not stand before the public "pretending to legitimize a vote I never took part in".
A Narrative of Dignity and Courage
President Sheinbaum's recent, powerful denial of state involvement is consistent with her long-standing strategy of focusing the narrative on moral victory. Weeks before the final, Bosch was involved in a public confrontation with Thai pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil, who chastised her over social media content. Bosch stood up to the director, calling his behavior disrespectful, and staged a dramatic walkout alongside several other contestants.
Sheinbaum, Mexico's first female President, immediately seized on this incident, positioning Bosch as a national symbol of female dignity and courage. She praised Bosch for standing up to the verbal attack and facing the aggression with dignity.
In comments made both before and after the coronation, the President emphasized the importance of women using their voices. "The old saying, 'you look prettier when you're quiet,' is a thing of the past. Women look more beautiful when we speak up and when we participate," Sheinbaum declared, framing the win not as a pageant victory, but as an "example of how we women should speak out" against injustice. By dismissing the 'paid to win' rumor and reinforcing the moral high ground, President Sheinbaum has successfully maintained a focus on the winner's display of integrity amidst the swirling corporate scandal.
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