Miss Universe Clarifies Fátima Bosch's Comment That She Wouldn't Advise 'Just Anyone' to Get into Pageants
Miss Universe Clarifies Fátima Bosch's Comment That She Wouldn't Advise 'Just Anyone' to Get into Pageants
Tabitha ParentSat, April 11, 2026 at 11:51 PM UTC
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Miss Universe Fátima Bosch on Nov. 21, 2025.Credit: LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty -
Miss Universe is providing clarification after Fátima Bosch received criticism for some advice she recently offered to pageant hopefuls
While speaking at a forum in El Salvador last month, the pageant queen shocked listeners when she answered a question from an audience member by saying that she "wouldn't advise just anyone to enter a beauty pageant"
"Fátima’s recent remarks have been subject to varied interpretations across different platforms," a spokesperson for Miss Universe said in a statement to PEOPLE
Miss Universe is providing clarification after Fátima Bosch received criticism for some advice she recently offered to pageant hopefuls.While speaking during the Mujeres que Transforman, or "Women Who Transform" forum, in Santa Tecla, El Salvador, in late March, Bosch, 25, was asked by an audience member what advice she would give to women who might be considering entering the pageant world. The Mexico native, who was crowned Miss Universe on Nov. 21, 2025, had an interesting response to the question."Well, honestly, I wouldn't advise just anyone to enter a beauty pageant," she said.
Bosch went on to emphasize that the impact the Miss Universe crown could have was dependent on the person wearing it. "If you have an important project —something you want to give visibility to — and you view this platform as a tool to serve that purpose, then go for it," she told the audience."To be frank — and I believe God placed me here — I certainly didn't choose to enter in the traditional sense," she continued.
Rather than "simply" encouraging people to participate in beauty pageants, Bosch advised those looking to get involved in the world of pageantry to first pursue a project that they believe can make a lasting impact."For me, it has been very difficult since winning — mainly because these pageants aren't accustomed to a 'real' woman: a woman who doesn't fit the exact measurements they demand, or a woman who actually has a voice of her own," she then said, calling the experience of serving as Miss Universe "scary."
Fátima Bosch.Credit: Fatima Bosch/Instagram
Adressing Bosch's comments, Miguel Ángel Martínez, a spokesperson for the Miss Universe organization, said in a statement to PEOPLE, "Fátima’s recent remarks have been subject to varied interpretations across different platforms."
"She has clarified that her intent was not to discourage participation in pageantry or to question its value, but rather to emphasize that it is one of many paths available for women to express their voice, purpose, and ambitions," the statement continued. "For more than seven decades, Miss Universe has served as a global platform supporting and elevating women across diverse fields."
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Bosch's journey to her Miss Universe crowning was marked by several controversies — the most notable of which included a confrontation between Bosch and pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil during a pre-pageant event at the Miss Universe competition in Thailand.
In early November, Itsaragrisil spoke to the contestants about his expectations that they would "promote the host country" during a livestream on the pageant's official Facebook page, specifically calling out Bosch at the time for allegedly refusing to partake in a photo shoot meant for contestants to share on social media, though Bosch stood up to deny the claims.
When he asked why she was still standing, the pageant queen said, "Because I have a voice,” adding, "You are not respecting me as a woman." Itsaragrisil called for security, at which point Bosch walked out of the room, and several contestants followed behind her.Itsaragrisil later apologized for the heated exchange in a video response posted on his Instagram. Speaking with pageant contestants present at the time, he said, "If anyone [was] feeling not good, if anyone [was] not comfortable. If anyone [was affected], I do apologize to everyone."
Bosch did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on the incident at the time.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
