Miss Universe speaks out in 1st interview since winning pageant
The newly-crowned Miss Universe, Fatima Bosch, is speaking publicly for the first time since winning the pageant in an ABC News exclusive interview, amid accusations of vote-rigging and favoritism.
Bosch, who represented Mexico, was crowned the 74th Miss Universe on Nov. 21 in Bangkok, Thailand, emerging at the top amid a competition that drew contestants from approximately 130 countries.
After winning, Bosch said she would like to be remembered as “a person that changed a little bit the prototype of what is a Miss Universe and a real person that gives the heart.”
To see more of Juju Chang's exclusive interview with Miss Universe, tune in to tonight's episode of "Nightline."
Bosch told "Nightline's" Juju Chang it was her first time competing in a pageant and "that moment felt like a dream come true."
The titleholder also pushed back at some social media critics who insinuated she only won the pageant because her father, an executive in the oil industry, shares some business interests with Raul Rocha Cantu, the co-owner of the pageant from Mexico.
"They make, like, this campaign of hate. My father has nothing to do with the organization," Bosch said. "And it's crazy. How are you going to buy a crown? Maybe in Walmart, you can buy a crown, yeah. But not in Miss Universe, for sure."
This year’s Miss Universe pageant has been mired in controversy and drama, stirring up headlines, including one where a contestant – Miss Jamaica – fell off the pageant stage while competing in an evening gown round and was taken to a local hospital where she remains under medical care.
"The lights that come to us make everything darker, like you can see us, but we couldn't see," Bosch said of what it's like walking out during the competition.
In the days leading up to the final pageant competition, Omar Harfouch, one of the judges, resigned, alleging the competition was fixed and that 30 finalists were chosen ahead of time in a secret vote. Harfouch even called for Bosch to be disqualified from the competition.
"My response to them and to him was that if maybe he wanted, like, more followers on Instagram, he should like, I don't know, get into a [TV] show," Bosch responded when asked about Harfouch.
In a statement shared to Instagram, the Miss Universe organization disputed Harfouch's claims, saying in part, "no impromptu jury has been created, that no external group has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists" and that all competition evaluations adhered to the organization's protocols.
Harfouch said he stood by his claims in a statement to ABC News on Tuesday, saying "everything had been set up for Fatima to win" and called Bosch's suggestion that he was making claims to gain more social media followers "false and frankly ridiculous" because he already had over 1 million followers on Instagram before the pageant.
Bosch herself also made headlines, walking out of an event after a pageant official, Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil, was seen in a video seemingly criticizing her, allegedly calling her a "dumb head," which he denied to ABC News.
Bosch's walkout also prompted other contestants to walk out with her in solidarity.
"He wanted, like, to humiliate me in front of all the people. And that was not OK," Bosch said, adding that she felt "scared at that time." "I told him like, 'You can't talk to me like that. You can't call me dumb.'"
"I couldn't stay quiet because in every case, your dignity is more important than any prize or any dream that you have," Bosch added.
Itsaragrisil apologized for his statements, saying the video clip of the incident was taken out of context.
"I do want to clarify my part in the situation. She stated publicly that I called her a 'dumbhead,' when in fact I said the word 'damage.' Video evidence clearly confirms this," Itsaragrisil said in a later statement to ABC News. "Unfortunately, this misunderstanding became a central cause of the conflict and significantly escalated the situation. Nevertheless, I acknowledged the miscommunication and expressed my regret for any distress it caused to her, to the contestants, and to the public."
Bosch’s walkout drew attention and even earned her global praise. The Miss Universe pageant also pulled in massive ratings with the organization touting 2.6 million views in an Instagram post.
But alongside the praise, there have also been some rumors. Some critics said Bosch was crowned the winner as a reward for taking a stand against Itsaragrisil’s comment and that Bosch was going to step away from the crown soon after winning, but Bosch dismissed both allegations.
"I think I make history. So why not? But of course, no, I make the same effort that all the pageant [contestants] make. And this is a job," Bosch said.
"I will never step away for this crown because I work really, really hard to be here,” Bosch added. “I'm not here for fame of modeling or searching [for a] husband. I'm here because God put a purpose on my heart. I have a mission and I will do that all year, to serve others and help."
Bosch said she plans on continuing to work with children who have cancer, as well as migrants and spreading awareness about the endangered monarch butterfly.
