Nawat Itsaragrisil apologises, says he did not call Miss Mexico ‘dumb head’

Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil has issued an apology for the controversy he caused during Miss Universe 2025’s annual sashing ceremony on Nov 4 in Bangkok, Thailand, ahead of the international beauty pageant’s finals on Nov 21.

- Joanne Soh Lifestyle Correspondent

The 60-year-old Thai businessman was seen publicly reprimanding Miss Universe Mexico 2025 Fatima Bosch in front of all the contestants, calling the beauty queen “a dumb head” for allegedly being unable to fulfil a sponsored shoot.

Mr Nawat, who is the chairman of the Miss Universe Thailand Host Committee and a vice-president for Asia and Oceania within the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), subsequently apologised at the 74th Miss Universe welcoming ceremony on the night of Nov 5. The event was live-streamed on YouTube channel GrandTV.

He went on stage and addressed the audience members and contestants, saying: “I’m so sorry (the past events) happened. I did not intend to harm anyone because I respect all of you.”

Saying that he was under “a lot of pressure”, he added: “I am a human. Sometimes, I cannot control... If anyone isn’t comfortable with what has happened, I am so sorry.”

He then faced all 130 of the Miss Universe 2025 contestants and bowed to them.

Mr Nawat also clarified at a press event that he did not call Bosch, 25, a “dumb head”, and the clip was shared on Pageant Trend’s Facebook account on Nov 5. Pageant Trend is a Philippines-based social media platform that promotes beauty pageants.

“I didn’t say ‘dumb head’ even one second... I said ‘damage’ he claimed.

Bosch has since earned the support of Miss Universe titleholders Sheynnis Palacios and Andrea Meza after the public humiliation.

His behaviour prompted Bosch, some fellow contestants and the reigning Miss Universe 2024, Denmark’s Victoria Theilvig, to walk out of the event.

The incident was live-streamed on Facebook on Nov 4, and earned mixed reactions on social media, with many pageant fans calling out MUO for not fostering a positive environment for this year’s delegates.