Hold up. What is going on with the Miss Universe pageant? There was some sort of walkout? Because a man was being disrespectful to one of the contestants? Creating a genuine girl power moment that was captured on video? Consider us sat and paying attention.

Let’s get into the Miss Universe pageant walkout, explained.

What happened?

In the now viral video, which you can still see on the Miss Universe Thailand Facebook page, Thai pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil lectures the contestants on the importance of promoting the host nation, Thailand. He specifically calls out Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, by name, and accuses her of refusing to participate in a group photo shoot, which was to be posted on social media.

“You don’t like to post everything because your director from Mexico ordered you to not pay any attention, to post about the host country? If you follow the orders from your national director, you are a [sic] dumb,” Nawat said, per The Independent. When Fátima tried to respond, Nawat quickly shut her down, saying, “I didn’t hear you asking to talk.”

Bosch protested that she has “a voice” and said that Nawat was not “respecting me as a woman.” In response, Nawat called for security to remove Bosch. At this point, the other contestants can be heard gasping in surprise. Many of them, including 2024 Miss Universe winner Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark, walked out with Bosch in protest.

Who is Nawat Itsaragrisil?

Nawat is a popular Thai media personality as well as the national director of Miss Universe Thailand and an executive of the Miss Universe Organisation. He is also the owner of the Miss Grand International pageant.

As is usually the case with these sorts of things, this is not the first time Nawat has come under fire for his comments and treatment of women. For one thing, he has a history of body-shaming contestants.

In 2016, it was reported that Nawat body-shamed, then Miss Iceland, Arna Ýr Jónsdóttir. “Stop eating breakfast, eat just salad for lunch, and drink water every evening until the contest,” he told her. Just this past May, he reportedly body-shamed Miss Grand International winner Rachel Gupta, causing more widespread backlash.

Who is Fátima Bosch?

Fátima won the Miss Universe Mexico title back in September, representing the Tabasco region, where she was born, per Excelsior.

Since her altercation with Nawat, she has not held back on social media or in interviews. “We’re in the 21st century, and I’m not a doll to be made up, styled, and have my clothes changed. I came here to be a voice for all the women and all the girls who fight for causes and to tell my country that I’m completely committed to that,” she said in a video statement. And she wrote on Instagram, “Mexicans don’t give up, because giving up has never been part of our history.”

Following the incident, she also spoke to the press, telling one interviewer, “Your director is not respectful. He called me dumb because he had problems with the organisation.” She continued, “I think that’s not fair because I am here. I do everything okay. I don’t mess with anyone. I just try to be kind.”

Regarding the walkout, she continued, “I think that the world needs to see this, because we are empowered women, and this is a platform for our voice, and no one can shut our voice, and no one will do that to me.… I hope that everyone at home, every woman, doesn’t matter if you have a big dream or you have a crumb, if that’s take away your dignity you need to go. Thank you.”

Who has responded?

Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig told reporters, “This is about women’s rights. We respect everyone, but this is not how things should be handled. Insulting another contestant is a huge lack of respect, and I would never do that. That’s why I’m putting on my coat and leaving,” according to the Independent.