Miss Universe 2025 kicks off in Thailand: Spain represented by Galician Andrea Valero sharing room with Mexican Fatima Bosch amid major scandal
Miss Universe 2025 kicks off in Thailand: Spain represented by Galician Andrea Valero sharing room with Mexican Fatima Bosch amid major scandal
Bangkok, November 19, 2025. One of the most anticipated events in the world of beauty has begun in Thailand — Miss Universe 2025. Preliminary stages, including contestants' arrival, photo shoots, and qualifying rounds, are already underway, with the grand finale set for November 21 at Impact Challenger Hall near Bangkok. This marks the fourth time Thailand hosts an event of this scale, gathering around 130 beauties from across the globe.
Spain is represented by 28-year-old Galician Andrea Valero, born in La Coruña. Crowned Miss Spain 2025 in July on Tenerife, Valero combines her entrepreneurial career with a passion for fashion. She frequently travels to Dubai for work, where she runs the luxury travel agency The Detailist, specializing in exclusive experiences. Previously, she studied Fashion Business in Milan and Paris and launched her own clothing brand using recycled materials. "I am more than ready to represent my country and the strength, beauty, and grace of Spanish women," Valero wrote on social media before departing for Thailand.
Pageant experts like Missosology consider her a strong contender to reach the top 30 after the first preliminary round on November 20.
Among the main title favorites are Ahtisa Manalo from the Philippines, leading in fan polls and predictions, and Fatima Bosch from Mexico, a 25-year-old activist from Tabasco advocating for women's rights. Notably, Valero and Bosch share a hotel room during the competition, adding a personal dimension to their participation. Their friendship gains significance against the backdrop of a recent scandal surrounding Bosch that overshadowed final preparations.
The controversy erupted on November 4 during the sash ceremony in Bangkok. Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly reprimanded Fatima Bosch for allegedly insufficient social media promotion of Thailand as host country. During a live Facebook broadcast, he called her "dumb," accused her of disrespect, and even summoned security to remove her from the hall. Bosch stood her ground, responding: "I respect Thailand and its culture, but your behavior is unacceptable." In solidarity, several contestants left the room, including reigning Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark. The incident went viral, sparking accusations of misogyny and toxic environment.
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) condemned Itsaragrisil, restricted his role in the pageant, and sent a special delegation to Thailand for oversight. Nawat later apologized at a press conference on November 5, admitting his mistake. The scandal intensified discussions about female empowerment in pageants but did not disrupt the schedule — all events continue as planned. Meanwhile, the director of Miss Universe Mexico, Jorge Figueroa, was arrested following a commercial dispute complaint filed by Itsaragrisil, and two judges — composer Omar Harfouch and footballer Claude Makélélé — withdrew, accusing organizers of manipulation.
Despite the drama, Valero and Bosch continue their preparations, emphasizing values of strength and mutual respect.
Spain hasn't won Miss Universe since 1974, and Valero has a real chance to change this statistic.
The final will be streamed live on Telemundo, Peacock, and YouTube. The competition promises to be one of the most talked-about in history.