A storm of controversy has hit Miss Universe 2025 after a former judge accused the competition of being “rigged” — just days after stepping down from the panel.
Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch, who resigned as a Miss Universe judge two days before the coronation, went public on Friday, claiming that newly crowned winner Fatima Bosch of Mexico was a “fake Miss Universe.”
In a social media post, Harfouch revealed that he had told American HBO 24 hours before the finals that Miss Mexico would win — not because of her performance, but because of alleged business ties between Miss Universe owner Raúl Rocha and Bosch’s father.
According to Harfouch, the supposed request happened a week earlier in Dubai. He claimed Rocha and his son personally asked him to vote for Bosch, telling him that a win for Miss Mexico would benefit their business interests.
Harfouch said he will release more details in May 2026, hinting that the story is far from over.
Why He Resigned
Harfouch explained that he stepped down after witnessing what he described as a questionable and “secret” voting process to select the Top 30 candidates from 136 contestants.
He said that the vote was conducted by people who were not official judges, including himself — something he called a clear conflict of interest.
“To this day,” he wrote, “no one knows who the selected 30 are, except for one person holding the results. That person is affiliated with a national organization of a participating country. That alone is a huge red flag.”
Harfouch said he could not face the audience and pretend to legitimize a vote he was never part of.
Some of the eliminated countries, he added, were even “at war, discriminated against, or geopolitically sensitive.”
“For viewers to believe the judges made those decisions… I cannot take responsibility for a process I didn’t join,” he said. “Pretending otherwise would be dishonest.”
Miss Universe Organization Responds
Shortly after his resignation, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) issued a firm statement denying Harfouch’s claims.
MUO said his accusations created the impression that an unauthorized group had been formed to judge the competition — something they insisted “never happened.”
They emphasized that the competition followed strict, transparent procedures supervised under MUO protocols.
MUO also stated that Harfouch is no longer allowed to use, display, or associate himself with Miss Universe trademarks.
They clarified that the “Beyond the Crown” initiative, which Harfouch referenced, has nothing to do with the official competition or judging panel.
Another Judge Resigns
Harfouch wasn’t the only one who stepped down.
French football manager Claude Makélélé also resigned as a Miss Universe judge due to “unforeseen personal reasons.”
He expressed deep respect for the pageant and apologized to the contestants, saying he hopes to contribute again “under better circumstances.”
Miss Universe 2025: A Pageant Surrounded by Drama
Even before coronation night, Miss Universe 2025 was already in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
A video posted by Miss Universe Thailand (MUT) showed MUT National Director Nawat Itsaragrisil calling security after a heated argument with an off-camera individual. MUO eventually barred Nawat from further participation in the event.
Miss Universe Mexico’s official pages later condemned what happened to Bosch, calling the incident “unacceptable.”
Despite the chaos, Fatima Bosch emerged as the winner among more than 100 candidates, taking home the coveted crown.
The Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo finished strong as 3rd runner-up, earning praise from Filipino fans worldwide.
