Fátima Bosch Fernández, a 25-year-old fashion designer from Tabasco, Mexico, has been crowned Miss Universe 2025, becoming her country’s fourth titleholder in the history of the pageant.

Bosch’s victory, achieved at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on Friday, was celebrated not only for her elegance but also for her inspiring personal journey of overcoming dyslexia, ADHD, and years of bullying.

Bosch captivated audiences and judges with her resilience and authenticity, edging out more than 80 contestants. Thailand’s Opal Suchata Chuangsri finished as first runner-up, followed by Venezuela’s Thalia Felizola in second place, the Philippines’ Patricia Bianca Evangelista in third, and Côte d’Ivoire’s Mariam Traoré in fourth.

Her triumph sparked nationwide celebrations in Mexico, which previously won the Miss Universe crown through Ximena Navarrete (2010), Lupita Jones (1991), and Margarita Moran (1977). Bosch dedicated her win to “every girl who has ever felt invisible,” pledging to use her reign to advocate for education and mental health.

The pageant itself was marred by controversy. A leaked audio recording of Director Laylah Ali berating contestants as “lazy” and “ungrateful” prompted walkouts and calls for her removal. Two judges resigned amid allegations of rigging, while Miss USA UmaSofia Srivastava publicly protested what she described as “bias” and “unfair scoring.” Organizers denied irregularities, but the turmoil overshadowed the event, which nonetheless drew 1.5 million global viewers.

Bosch’s platform, centered on inclusive fashion for neurodiverse individuals, resonated deeply with audiences. As she prepares for her reign, she is hailed in Mexico as a beacon of hope and resilience, even as the Miss Universe organization grapples with lingering disputes and calls for reform.