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Former Miss USA Noelia Voight reprimanded the Miss Universe Organization executive who called one beauty queen a “dummy” during a fiery exchange, forcing several contestants to walk out of the event.
“I stand in full solidarity with Fátima Bosch, Viktoria Kjær Theilvig, and all of the incredible women who walked out yesterday in protest of the unacceptable treatment that occurred at the Miss Universe 2025 Orientation in Thailand,” Voight wrote on Instagram Wednesday night.
“When I woke up yesterday morning and saw the video circulating across the internet showing what happened, I was shocked, disgusted, disappointed, and genuinely horrified,” she wrote.
Bosch, who is representing Mexico at this year’s world competition, was singled out by Nawat Itsaragrisil, an executive director at MUO, before the annual sashing ceremony on Tuesday.
The event, live-streamed on the Miss Universe Thailand Facebook page, captured Itsaragrisil calling out Bosch for not participating in a sponsorship shoot, claiming she wasn’t smart for listening to her country’s director.
“Mexico, where are you? He asked, prompting Bosch to out herself. “I heard you’re not going to support everything about Thailand. Is that true?”
The tense exchange lasted for four minutes before Itsaragrisil called Bosch a “dummy,” sparking fury from the women.
“I still keep talking to everybody, why you still stand up to talk to me,” Itsaragrisil questioned Bosch.
“Because I have a voice,” she said. “You are not respecting me as a woman.”
Itsaragrisil called for security to take Bosch out of the room as the rest of the contestants bemoaned the decision.
Voight, 26, claimed the viral moment was similar to the way she was treated during her pageant career.
“As someone who served as Miss USA 2023 and later made the decision to step away from my title, I understand what it feels like when your voice is dismissed and your dignity is demeaned,” she said.
“There is no place for power without humility in a platform that claims to uplift women. There is no place for intimidation or ego tripping disguised as ‘leadership,’ or for using titles and stages to instill fear and shame instead of empower,” she added. “And there is absolutely no place for treating human beings especially those representing their nations with bravery and grace-with anything less than dignity, respect, and equity.”
Voight represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant before she shockingly stepped down from her reign after just seven months, citing her mental health.
It was later revealed she relinquished her crown alongside Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava over “harmful workplace conditions” and a “toxic atmosphere” created by the then Miss USA bosses.
“What occurred yesterday when Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly berated and called Miss Universe Mexico, Fátima Bosch, ‘dumb,’ attempted to intimidate contestants with threats of security and exclusion from the pageant if they left the room, and forced a group of young women to choose: stay and be humiliated, or walk out and be punished-is profoundly wrong,” Voight wrote.
A majority of Miss Universe contestants, led by Theilvig, the current Miss Universe and Danish beauty queen, walked out of the ballroom following Itsaragrisil’s comments.
The controversial executive threatened the beauty queens with disqualification if they left.
He later apologized for making people who saw the video “uncomfortable.”
“To Nawat (and to anyone else who thinks this kind of behavior is acceptable): Don’t be sorry simply because you got caught,” Voight said. “The world witnessed how you treat contestants in front of hundreds. One can only imagine what you’ve said in private when you believed no one was watching and no one would hold you accountable.”
Voight applauded Bosch and Theilvig for leading the charge in opposing Itsaragrisil’s humiliation.
“To Fátima, thank you. Your strength, your bravery, your unwavering stance- ‘Because I have a voice’ gave me chills and reminded me why I walked away from something that was hurting me,” Voight praised. “The way you stood up for yourself and for the other women in that room, and also beyond, is historic. You are already wearing a crown of empowerment, and the world sees it.
“To Viktoria, and to every contestant who followed in solidarity: you all set an incredible standard. When you stood, you said something louder than words: We will not be silenced. We will not be humiliated. We will not be dehumanized. We will not be disrespected,” the former Miss Utah winner said.
English (US)