The Drama and Politics of Miss Universe 2025
By Pușu Ștefania
There is a common misconception among people that they can stay on the sidelines of politics because they are immune to it. Why should they care about something that seems so far away and reserved only for the political figures? The reality is that if one looks carefully enough, one can conclude that politics is everywhere, quite literally ubiquitous, like a God keeping a close eye on the turn of events. And because watchfulness does not spare anyone, or rather anything, you can find politics even where you would not expect it.
What Happened?
If you enjoy tuning in for the annual Miss Universe Contest, as I do, then I will be the one breaking it to you: politics is present even in the nooks and crannies of this apparently unrelated event. The most popular pageant contest still hasn’t dropped the sexist character around it, and the 2025 show was just the latest offence.
The drama unfolded during a pre-pageant ceremony in which the Miss Universe Thailand CEO, Nawat Itsaragrisil, told off Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch. Caught on camera, the CEO called Miss Mexico a ‘dumbhead’, sending a wave of appalling reactions among the other contestants, who decided to walk out of the ceremony in support of Fatima. This only proves that women do stick together and show up for one another, as opposed to the age-old myth of pitting girls against each other. After a winding road to victory, as it happens for women in every industry, Fatima Bosch was finally crowned as the winner of Miss Universe 2025. But the political dimension did not end here.
Miss Universe: Tainted by Politics
Miss Bosch and Nawat’s conflict was not the only trouble this year. Criticisms arose yet again around the decision not to disqualify Russia from the competition, after similar pressure had been placed two years before. Anastasia Venza, Miss Russia, opened up about how the other contestants avoided her and ‘shunned her’. In addition, Israel and Palestine found themselves in the centre of a questionable situation after AI videos showed Miss Israel scowling at Miss Palestine. Miss Israel quickly criticised the beauty pageant for pitting them against each other.
Backstage insights have also revealed insensitive comments made by Miss Israel on a post of Miss Palestine in which she depicted the impact of the Israeli war in Gaza on children from both sides.
Beauty Pageants Have Become the Place for Controversy Against Their Will
Despite Miss Universe being considered a pillar in worldwide pop culture, one cannot help but question the roots of the contest, known best as a promoter of patriarchal norms and spreader of misogyny. Although initially used as a platform for women to attain a voice on the global stage, many are now calling for the end of the contest, known for its objectification of women and ranking them according to attractiveness. In an attempt to save its reputation, in more recent years, the industry has been taking steps to change its rhetoric on the definition of ‘woman’, making it more inclusive and allowing transgender women to participate.
The reality is that while politics will continue following beauty pageants, the power still revolves around the women participating, and moments like speaking up against injustice reflect that the tricky pedestal women are supposed to be placed on can always take another form when they are encouraged and entitled to speak their minds and watch out for one another.
