The newly crowned Miss Universe 2025, Fatima Bosch of Mexico, has been thrust into the center of a major controversy after a judge who resigned just days before the coronation publicly claimed the pageant was “rigged” for business reasons.
Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch, who was on the Miss Universe selection committee but stepped down before the final event, took to social media on Friday to call Bosch a “fake Miss Universe,” alleging the result was predetermined.
Business Ties and a Pre-Announced Winner
Harfouch’s most serious allegation links the pageant’s outcome to the business dealings of Miss Universe owner Raúl Rocha and the father of the Mexican delegate.
“I Omar Harfouch declared yesterday exclusively on the Americain HBO, 24 hours before the Miss Universe final, that Miss Mexico would win—because Miss Universe owner Raúl Rocha is in business with Fatima Bosch’s father,” Harfouch posted.
He further claimed that Rocha and his son directly lobbied him to vote for Bosch during a meeting in Dubai a week prior, stating that her win would be “good for our business.” Harfouch promised to release more detailed information in May 2026.
The Resignation Over ‘Secret Votes’
Harfouch’s claims follow his earlier, pre-coronation resignation, which was rooted in a dispute over the judging process itself. He stated he could not legitimize a vote he never took part in, alleging a “secret vote” was conducted by non-official jury members to pre-select 30 contestants out of 136.
“To this day, no one knows who the selected 30 are, except one individual who holds the results. This same person is affiliated with a national organization of a participating country—which is a clear conflict of interest,” he wrote on Instagram.
Harfouch argued he could not “bear responsibility for a process I did not participate in,” citing the geopolitical sensitivities of some eliminated countries.
MUO Denies Impropriety
Following the initial claims, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) released a statement acknowledging Harfouch’s resignation but firmly denying his claims of an unsanctioned judging process.
- The MUO stated that Harfouch’s comments “incorrectly suggested that an unauthorized or impromptu jury had been formed” and that official judges were excluded.
- “The Miss Universe Organization firmly clarifies that no impromptu jury has been created… and that all competition evaluations continue to follow the established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols,” the organization stated.
- The MUO also distanced itself from Harfouch, noting he is not permitted to use or associate himself with the pageant’s trademarks.
Second Judge Quits Amid Scandal
Harfouch was one of two judges who resigned days before the final. French football manager Claude Makélélé also withdrew, citing “unforeseen personal reasons.” Makélélé expressed his high regard for the Miss Universe platform, which represents “empowerment, diversity, and excellence,” and apologized to the pageant and contestants.
Bosch at the Center of Pre-Pageant Drama
The latest allegations cap off what has been a deeply controversial Miss Universe 2025 competition, with Fatima Bosch already involved in a highly publicized incident. Earlier in the contest, a video surfaced showing the Miss Universe Thailand (MUT) National Director, Nawat Itsaragrisil, calling security after a heated confrontation with a person off-camera.
Official Miss Universe Mexico accounts subsequently issued a statement calling the treatment of Bosch “unacceptable.” Itsaragrisil later issued an apology, and the MUO reportedly barred him from further event participation.
Despite the turbulence, Bosch was crowned Miss Universe, with the Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo finishing as 3rd runner-up. The wave of controversy, however, ensures Bosch’s victory, and the 74th Miss Universe pageant will remain a subject of intense global scrutiny.