Vlad Bunoan

Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Theilvig (left) took the side of a candidate who was in a heated exchange with the pageant's vice president for Asiana, Nawat Itsaragrisil.

Article (news)

Karen Flores

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:827px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17622549336032-Composite (4) 6.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Theilvig (left) took the side of a candidate who was in a heated exchange with the pageant&#x27;s vice president for Asiana, Nawat Itsaragrisil. Photos from Instagram: @victoriaakjaer, @nawat.tv"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Theilvig (left) took the side of a candidate who was in a heated exchange with the pageant&#x27;s<strong style="text-align:left"></strong> vice president for Asiana, Nawat Itsaragrisil. <em>Photos from Instagram: @victoriaakjaer, @nawat.tv</em></span></span></span></div><p>What was supposed to be a celebration of women around the world ended in controversy as walkouts and tears marked the Miss Universe orientation in Thailand on Tuesday, November 4. </p><p>Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Theilvig reportedly left the venue as she took the side of Mexico&#x27;s delegate, Fatima Bosch, amid her heated exchange with the pageant&#x27;s vice president for Asiana, Nawat Itsaragrisil.</p><p>The Thai entrepreneur, known to many as the founder of the Miss Grand International pageant and is also the national director of Miss Universe Thailand (MUT), raised his voice at Bosch, as documented in a video shared by pageant pages online. </p><p>Some candidates can be heard retaliating in the background, with Itsaragrisil threatening them as they stand up and make their way out. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-10" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQoE6GfApE9/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=464&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A10%2C%22os%22%3A6863207.1%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="823" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-10" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>A teary-eyed Theilvig spoke with members of the media as she reiterated her support for Bosch and stressing the importance of women empowerment and sisterhood. </p><p>&quot;We have respect for everyone, but this is not how things [should] be handled. To trash another girl is beyond disrespectful,&quot; she said in a video posted by pageant correspondent Adam Genato. </p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s nothing I as a girl can stand into. That&#x27;s why I&#x27;m taking my phone and I&#x27;m going,&quot; added the beauty queen from Denmark, her voice breaking as she started walking away.<br/><br/></p><p>Theilvig continued to express her sentiments on Instagram Stories where she praised Bosch for &quot;standing up for yourself,&quot; saying &quot;it is one of the most important acts of self-respect and strength you can show.&quot;</p><p>&quot;It means knowing your worth, setting boundaries, and not allowing anyone or anything to undermine your voice and your value,&quot; she wrote. &quot;It&#x27;s about acknowledging that you have a right to be heard, to express your opinions, and to pursue your dreams, regardless of any obstacles that may come your way.&quot;<br/><br/>Citing statements from several contestants, pageant website Missosology said Bosch was allegedly questioned for declining a sponsor photo shoot, and only agreeing to join in those handled by the American Spanish-language TV network Telemundo.</p><p>As the Mexican beauty queen tried to give her side of the story during the orientation, she was reportedly told to either stay or leave, with her choosing the latter. This prompted Theilvig to speak up, and also eventually walking out. </p><p>In the end, the producers of MUT and the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) were able to sort things out, with the sashing ceremony pushing through without Itsaragrisil.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1762255531367573914295_18531347872021655_5416802768403397595_n.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Screenshot from Theilvig/Instagram Stories"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Screenshot from Theilvig/Instagram Stories </span></span></span></div><p>In a live video broadcast, Itsaragrisil apologized for the incident, saying he was &quot;very pressured.&quot;</p><div> </div><p>He likewise promised to take care of the contestants and fix the issue with Bosch, and make the Miss Universe pageant a success.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Clash of pageant orgs</strong></div><p>A power struggle has been looming between MUO and MUT ahead of the 74th Miss Universe coronation night, with the former publicly giving a thumbs down to the latter&#x27;s voting contest involving this year&#x27;s candidates.</p><div><br/></div><p>MUO labeled the initiative led by Itsaragrisil as &quot;unauthorized&quot; as it reminded the public that the competition only consists of four stages of evaluation. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQkvzj1E9mY/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=464&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A6664350.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="864" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQnZ5uuk4Zg/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=464&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A6639454.4%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="864" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>MUT, for its part, earlier called out MUO on social media for promoting a sponsor associated with online casinos, which are illegal under Thai law.</p><p>As the official host of the 74th Miss Universe pageant, it denied any involvement in such activities, saying these were carried out solely by MUO.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQlydf5E68G/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=464&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A6500350.8%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="700" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong>Miss Universe CEO steps in</strong></div><p>Amid the public mess, MUO&#x27;s top executive is flying to Thailand, with the organization assuring the public that all activities will push through as scheduled.</p><p>The newly released statement said a &quot;high-level delegation&quot; led by CEO Mario Bucaro is already on their way to &quot;strengthen collaboration&quot; with stakeholders and relevant authorities.</p><p>It also promised to stand firm in &quot;ensuring a safe, inspiring, and memorable experience for every delegate.&quot;</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQoY3TSEzS3/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=464&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A6442288.7%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="823" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>The 74th Miss Universe coronation night is set to be held on November 21. Pageant veteran Ahtisa Manalo is aiming for the Philippines&#x27; fifth Miss Universe crown.</p>

<p>What was supposed to be a celebration of women around the world ended in controversy as walkouts and tears marked the Miss Universe orientation in Thailand on Tuesday, November 4.</p>

What was supposed to be a celebration of women around the world ended in controversy as walkouts and tears marked the Miss Universe orientation in Thailand on Tuesday, November 4.

Walkouts and tears as power struggle in Miss Universe looms

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Walkouts and tears as power struggle in Miss Universe looms

Karen Flores Layno,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 04, 2025 07:26 PM PHT

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Updated Nov 08, 2025 02:37 PM PHT

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pageants

Nawat Itsaragrisil

Victoria Theilvig

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