The Miss Universe 2025 pageant, held on 21 November in Bangkok, Thailand, crowned Mexico’s Fatima Bosch as the new Miss Universe. But soon after the celebrations, the long-running controversy surrounding the international competition resurfaced. Melissa Sapini, who represented Haiti, has publicly demanded an independent and unbiased investigation into a series of allegations that she says overshadowed the event.
Sapini shared a detailed statement with the Hindustan Times, emphasising that her appeal is not connected to the final results but to the safety, fairness, and integrity of the Miss Universe platform. She insisted that the allegations raised by multiple contestants must be addressed transparently if the organisation wishes to protect the future of the pageant.
Her comments follow winner Fatima Bosch’s recent interview with ABC News on December 3, where Fatima defended the Miss Universe Organisation and dismissed claims of misconduct.
“This Is Not About Fatima”
In her statement, Melissa clarified:
“Let me be clear: this is not about Fatima. This is about protecting the women who cannot safely speak for themselves. I am speaking out because the organisers continue to provide excuses instead of answers.”
She added that attempts to trivialise or mock the allegations—through jokes about social media followers or “Walmart crowns”—are harmful and distract from the seriousness of the concerns raised by contestants.
“The world is watching,” she warned, underscoring the need for accountability.
On the Nawat–Fatima Controversy
A major part of Melissa’s statement targeted Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of Miss Grand International (MGI) and a key organiser of the Miss Universe 2025 pageant. She accused him of dishonesty, manipulation, and using legal threats to silence criticism.
“As for Nawat’s behaviour, I was in that room. We all heard what he said,” she claimed. “Blaming a language barrier is outrageous and disrespectful to every multilingual woman in the competition. His crocodile tears were dramatic, not sincere.”
Melissa further alleged that Nawat is now attempting to intimidate Fatima Bosch through “fabricated criminal charges,” questioning when such actions would finally stop.
She stressed that the backstage environment is just as important as the onstage performance, and that only one side of the story is currently being publicised.
Call for an Independent Inquiry
Melissa said that an internal investigation by the Miss Universe Organisation would never be fair, comparing it to a police department investigating itself.
“Having Miss Universe defend Miss Universe will never reveal the full truth,” she stated.
She concluded by demanding an independent, external, and transparent investigation into all allegations raised during Miss Universe 2025.
Organisation Yet to Respond
As of now, the Miss Universe Organisation has not issued any official response to Melissa Sapini’s statement or her request for an independent review. The 2025 edition of the pageant has been surrounded by multiple controversies—from public confrontations and alleged rigging to concerns about contestant safety—both before and after the finale in Bangkok.