Fatima Bosch wins Miss Universe after dramatic season

Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, has been crowned Miss Universe at a ceremony in Bangkok, marking the end of a season particularly filled with scandals.

The 25-year-old contestant had walked out of an event earlier in November after a Thai official publicly criticized her in front of dozens of contestants and threatened to expel those who supported her, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

This dramatic episode was followed a week later by the resignation of two judges, one of whom accused the organizers of manipulating the competition.

These events come as one of the world’s oldest beauty pageants faces questions about its relevance and a declining audience. The latest result has added to the controversy, with the news of Miss Mexico’s win immediately dividing opinion online.

Many Mexicans celebrated her victory, as did those who had applauded her withdrawal from the earlier event, BBC writes.

But some have also wondered whether the organizers awarded her the crown to compensate for the earlier scandal.

Miss Thailand, Praveenar Singh, placed first runner-up after Miss Mexico, while Miss Venezuela, Stephany Abasali, ranked third, followed by Miss Philippines, Ma Ahtisa Manalo, and Miss Ivory Coast, Olivia Yace.