A video of a Miss Universe contestant being assaulted by a male pageant director in Thailand has sparked widespread allegations of misogyny and sparked a global debate about female empowerment and the merits of international beauty pageants.
Miss Grand International (MGI) president Nawat Isaragrisil was seen scolding 25-year-old Mexican contestant Fatima Bosch ahead of the 74th Miss Universe pageant to be held in Bangkok later this month.
In a livestreamed pre-contest meeting with dozens of other contestants, Nawat was seen accusing Bosch of not posting enough promotional content about the host country, Thailand.
He suggested that the director of the Mexican pageant had ordered her to disrupt these promotional activities, and appeared to say that Bosch would be a “fool” if she followed his instructions. The director of the Thai pageant denied the remarks and claimed that he had actually accused her of causing “damage”.
When Bosch retorted to the insult, Nawat tried to silence her by saying, “I didn’t give you a chance to speak.” He then called security to have her removed from the room. At that point, the other contestants stood up and walked out in solidarity, and the contest director threatened to eliminate them if they did not sit down.
Mr. Nawat later publicly apologized to the contestants, but his actions quickly drew condemnation around the world, including from Mexico’s president, who called it an “aggression” that Bosch responded with “dignity.”
anger and apology
Bosch, who was crowned Miss Universe Mexico earlier this year, accused Nawat of insulting her.
Shortly after the exchange, she told the media that the abuse by Thai officials stemmed from a disagreement between Nawat and the Miss Universe organization, which is also chaired by a Mexican.
“I think it’s unfair because I’m here. I’m doing everything OK. I don’t interfere with anyone. I’m just trying to be nice. I’m trying to do my best,” the young woman said in a video posted to TikTok.
“He told me to ‘shut up’ and all sorts of things. And I think the world needs to understand this because we are empowered women. This is a platform for our voices to be heard and no one can silence our voices,” Bosch said.
Miss Universe organization president Raul Rocha also criticized the Thai businessman and restricted his participation in future activities. Rocha said Nawat humiliated and belittled the Mexican contestants and claimed he was responsible for “severe abuse in that he called in security to intimidate defenseless women in an attempt to silence and exclude them.”
“I have restricted Nawat’s participation in events that are part of the 74th Miss Universe pageant, limiting it to the maximum extent possible or eliminating it completely,” Rocha said in Spanish.
Nawat apologized during a livestreamed welcome ceremony on Wednesday. He insisted he did not intend to hurt anyone and respected everyone involved. “I have to say I’m very sorry,” he told the dozens of attendees, including Mr. Bosch, who stood next to him on stage.
News of this incident quickly reached the President of Mexico.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said at a press conference Wednesday that Bosch’s response was “an example of how women need to speak out.”
Sheinbaum, who recently experienced an apparent molestation incident, reflected on the sexist phrase “Calladita te ves más bonita,” which is often used to silence women in Mexico. It means “you look more beautiful when you are silent.”
“Well, I don’t know if anyone said that to the women here, but they told me that,” the president said.
“Women look more beautiful when we speak up and participate, because it’s about recognizing our rights. So I recognize this young woman.”
crown and majesty
Catalina Ruiz Navarro, a Colombian feminist activist and journalist based in Mexico City, argued that the nature of beauty pageants like Miss Universe puts women in a patriarchal position.
“The Miss Universe pageant is about disciplining and monitoring the body and finding out how, through technology, intervention, exercise and diet, we can adjust this body to essentially align with Catholic ideals,” she told CNN.
Luis Navarro also praised Bosch, saying her reaction was “really courageous because she had so much to lose. And the fact that the girls left with her at the same time speaks to the collective anger and shows the small lines they were willing to cross.”
Miss Universe 2023 and Nicaragua’s representative Chenice Palacios said on social media that “crowns should not sacrifice women’s dignity,” arguing that these pageants are supposed to empower, inspire and foster leadership, but that purpose is betrayed “when power relations, humiliation and disrespect arise.”
Alicia Machado, who represented Venezuela as Miss Universe in 1996, said similar problems existed when she won. “I don’t understand why these international competitions continue to be tolerated as engaging in unethical practices,” she said, calling for the competition to be used to fight “for gender rights and equality around the world.”
Luis Navarro said Bosch’s actions and those of other contestants may limit this kind of behavior, but it may not be enough. As long as beauty pageants exist, she says, “they have to become more inclusive and fair, and they have to treat beauty queens with dignity.”
Contest activities began in Bangkok on Sunday. This year, women from 130 countries are participating and will conclude on November 21 with the crowning of the winners.
