As controversies continue to overshadow the 2025 Miss Universe competition, one contestant is now breaking down what happened behind the scenes during the viral confrontation between Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch and pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil — a moment that sparked an unprecedented walkout by numerous delegates.
Miss Haiti Melissa Sapini, who was in the room when the incident unfolded, tells PEOPLE that what the public saw on livestream was only a fraction of the confusion, fear and chaos contestants experienced during the tense encounter.
The Confrontation That Sparked Global Shock
On Nov. 4, what was supposed to be a routine pre-pageant engagement — partly a sashing ceremony and partly a livestreamed discussion — abruptly escalated when Itsaragrisil accused Bosch of refusing to participate in a promotional photo shoot.
Bosch denied the allegation on the spot, but Itsaragrisil continued pressing her in front of dozens of contestants and live cameras. Moments later, Bosch stood up and walked out — and several contestants, including Sapini, followed her in solidarity.
Though Itsaragrisil later apologized publicly, acknowledging that some contestants had felt uncomfortable or upset, the damage was done. The moment instantly went viral, prompting debates about contestant treatment, power dynamics, and backstage tensions between Miss Universe and its host partner, Miss Grand International.
“It Felt Like a Movie”: Inside the Room When Tensions Erupted
Sapini tells PEOPLE the atmosphere shifted suddenly and dramatically.
What began as a simple ceremony hosted by then-reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig turned into an unexpected interrogation when Itsaragrisil accused multiple delegates of failing to meet promotional obligations.
“He said he had a list of countries who weren’t posting about Thailand,” Sapini recalls. “Then he said if we didn’t stand up, we’d be out of the competition.”
According to her, four cameramen quickly surrounded the contestants, capturing close-ups of their reactions. That’s when Itsaragrisil reportedly told Miss Mexico to rise — prompting the moment Bosch walked out.
Sapini says the threat of elimination, given without warning, was “shocking and disrespectful,” especially at the very start of the competition. “How do you tell us we could be removed like that? We had barely even started.”
Contestants Torn Between Leaving and Fear of Punishment
Sapini says confusion deepened once contestants left the room. Some were worried about potential retaliation, while others hesitated because staff allegedly warned that if they stepped out, they’d be disqualified.
“We ended up crowded into a hotel room with Miss Universe and several delegates,” Sapini says. “Some contestants stayed behind because they were terrified of being cut from the competition.”
Others didn’t know whom they could trust. Representatives from MGI urged them to remain calm. Meanwhile, former Miss Universe MJ Lastimosa reportedly told contestants they could shelter in her room — but Sapini says no one was sure which instructions were legitimate.
“It felt surreal. Like we were characters in a drama we didn’t sign up for,” she says.
Miss Mexico Was “Very Upset” and Refused to Return
Inside the hotel room, Sapini says Bosch was distraught and refused to go back to the event space.
According to Sapini, Bosch told the group she couldn’t return because she believed Itsaragrisil was misleading contestants downstairs. Some delegates who had not walked out were asking why they were being held — and were allegedly being told not to worry because Miss Universe leadership was on the way.
However, Sapini says Theilvig — who was with the group upstairs — would not move without direct guidance from Miss Universe owner Raúl Rocha.
The situation, Sapini explains, dragged on for an entire day.
Host Organization Claims the Conflict Originated Elsewhere
Miss Grand International, which hosted the pageant, told PEOPLE that ongoing public statements from the Miss Universe Organization and Rocha created operational challenges. They claimed some contestants were refusing to participate in scheduled activities or sponsor-related content — including Miss Mexico.
They argue that the Nov. 4 incident escalated only when Bosch “reacted defensively.”
“I Was Scared… I Thought My Pageant Journey Was Over”
Sapini admits she worried her decision to walk out could end her Miss Universe experience entirely.
She had taken time off school, prepared for months, and traveled 28 hours to Thailand. The idea that her participation could end because she stood up and left the room left her shaken.
“It crossed my mind — would my family be disappointed? Would my organization be upset? I didn’t know what the right choice was,” she says.
Ultimately, she acted on principle: “I’m not letting a man tell me what to do.”
A Turning Point in Her Pageant Career
Now 22, Sapini says the ordeal left her questioning whether pageantry still has a place in her future.
She says the emotional toll, the lack of clarity, and the feeling that contestants were not given a fair chance have stayed with her long after the competition.
“I didn’t even get the chance to fight for my placement,” she says. “I didn’t get the fair, equal opportunity every contestant deserves.”
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