Former Miss Universe 2025 judge Omar Harfouch accused the pageant of fraud and asked winner Fátima Bosch to return the crown, claiming voting manipulation. Bosch refused to renounce, stating her title carries an inspirational mission for girls and women. The controversy also involves criticisms against businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú.
Omar Harfouch, Lebanese musician and former Miss Universe 2025 judge, responded to criticisms from Raúl Rocha Cantú, who called him an 'opportunist.' In an interview with Javier Ceriani, Harfouch labeled Rocha a 'trafficker' and questioned his credibility, stating: “Puede decir lo que quiera, la realidad es que de cualquier forma, quien va a creerle a un traficante para un cartel y a alguien dedicado a lavar dinero, entonces no me importa (lo dicho)”. According to Harfouch, he warned Rocha about the fraud in the pageant, leading to his dismissal.
Harfouch claimed the fraud was planned before the event in Thailand on November 21, 2025. He said he was asked to favor Fátima Bosch from the preparations, and there was no jury selection but by another entity. He highlighted a conflict of interest with Bosch's father, Bernardo Bosch Hernández, a Pemex collaborator, and the contest's direction. “Fue de un fraude a otro, primero me enteré de lo que estaba tramando para Miss Universo y luego me enteré de sus problemas legales en México (...) La prueba de esto fue que no hubo selección por el jurado, fue otra entidad quien votó”, he said. He dismissed Mexican authorities investigating money laundering, as it is decided by a committee in New York. He challenged them to show voting results: “Si estoy mintiendo por qué Rocha no enseñan los resultados, es porque no existen las votaciones, ellos mismos lo decidieron (a la ganadora)”.
Harfouch confronted Bosch directly: “Ella no es una ganadora legal, y le pedí personalmente que devolviera la corona de Miss Universo, pero no quiere regresarla”. He indicated Bosch's father rejected Rocha's dismissal to avoid exposing the fraud.
In response, Bosch posted a video on Instagram on December 2, 2025, refusing to renounce. “Hablo desde mi verdad y desde la misión que llevo en el corazón. Porque sí, soy Miss Universe, pero antes que eso soy Fátima Bosch Fernández, una mujer auténtica, valiente e imperfecta (…) Esto ya empezó y no pienso detenerlo”, she expressed. As a neurodivergent woman from Tabasco, Bosch emphasized her role as a role model: “Ser Miss Universe no es solo llevar una corona, es llevar una misión”. She mentioned criticisms from Harfouch and Nawat Itsaragrisil, director of Miss Universe Thailand, but prioritized inspiring girls with her story of overcoming challenges.
