The glittering spectacle of the Miss Universe 2025 coronation, held in the vibrant city of Nonthaburi, Thailand, quickly descended into a global controversy, leaving a trail of shock, disbelief, and widespread public anger. While the Philippines celebrated the strong performance of its representative, Ahtisa Manalo, who secured a third runner-up placement and marked the country’s first return to the Top 5 since 2021, the crowning of Fatima Bosch of Mexico was met with an immediate and unprecedented digital and verbal revolt. The prevailing sentiment among millions of Filipino pageant fans, strongly echoed by major celebrities, was that the final results were fundamentally flawed—a shocking climax fueled by subsequent explosive claims of external interference and business ties influencing the judicial process.

The immediate reaction on social media was one of collective bewilderment and outrage. Leading the charge was the outspoken ‘It’s Showtime’ host, Vice Ganda, who posted a rapid-fire series of emotional declarations on X (formerly Twitter). The celebrity’s posts captured the national mood of indignation, stating unequivocally that the Philippines had been “robbed” and questioning the rationale behind the placements: “Ha???!!!!! Quing inaniooooo!!!! #MissUniverse2025” and later adding, “Yung magagandang sagot 3rd and 4th??? Tapos yung di mo expected yun ang nanalo?? Ha?? Baka baliktad yung sulat???” These sentiments highlighted the popular belief that the candidates praised for delivering superior responses were inexplicably ranked lower than expected. The host concluded the initial flurry with a blunt dismissal of the outcome: “Unacceptable!!!!! #MissUniverse2025.”

The confusion was not limited to fans and commentators. Former Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee quickly expressed her own sense of shock, succinctly summarizing the chaos with: “I’m so confused,” followed by “speechless #missuniverse2025.” Actress Ruffa Gutierrez also conveyed her dismay, stating emphatically: “IM SHOCKED!!” She provided a clearer articulation of the disappointment, suggesting that the strongest contenders were penalized: “The two strongest contenders, in my opinion, ended up placing the lowest at Miss Universe 2025. They deserved a higher placement! #MissUniverse2025.” This celebrity consensus—shared by showbiz personality John Lapus, who joked that the list must have been reversed, and actor Awra Briguela—underscored the prevailing public opinion that the results defied objective merit, turning the grand finale into a controversial spectacle that overshadowed Manalo’s achievement.

The controversy was dramatically intensified by explosive claims from within the pageant’s own judging panel. Omar Harfouch, a former Miss Universe judge who had publicly resigned days before the finals, took to social media to allege direct influence over the outcome. Harfouch’s post directly accused the winner of being a “Fake winner” whose victory was allegedly engineered for commercial gain. He asserted that powerful figures involved with the organization had personally urged him to vote for Fatima Bosch, explicitly stating that the win was necessary “because it will be good for our business.” This staggering allegation, linking the prestigious title to external financial interests rather than merit, instantly transformed the widespread fan disappointment into a high-stakes public dispute about the integrity of the entire competition. Harfouch further promised to reveal more details in an upcoming feature in May 2026, keeping the controversy simmering for months to come.

The public reaction to Bosch’s victory was immediate and tangible, extending beyond celebrity outrage. At the Impact Arena in Nonthaburi, the announcement was reportedly met with audible boos in the lobby, with social media influencers sharing clips capturing the crowd’s loud disapproval of the newly crowned queen. Online, the reaction was even more pervasive, fueled by an extraordinary delay on the pageant’s official social media channels. The Miss Universe Facebook page, boasting over 14 million followers, failed to post any update on Fatima Bosch’s coronation for a significant period. Its last public update remained fixed on Olivia Yace as the fourth runner-up. This striking silence—unprecedented in the immediate aftermath of a global event—was widely interpreted as internal hesitation or a recognition of the overwhelming backlash, effectively magnifying the visibility of thousands of angry reactions and demands for an explanation from netizens across the platform.

The confluence of a former judge’s claims of business influence, the boos at the venue, and the organization’s social media silence created a narrative of an internally troubled event. Bosch’s contested win capped a dramatic edition of Miss Universe already marked by internal conflicts, judge resignations, and reports of public disputes between the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and the Thai organizers. The official final results ultimately placed Fatima Bosch (Mexico) as Miss Universe, Praveenar Singh (Thailand) as first runner-up, Stephany Abasali (Venezuela) as second runner-up, Ahtisa Manalo (Philippines) as third runner-up, and Olivia Yace (Côte d’Ivoire) as fourth runner-up. For the global audience, however, the rank order seemed divorced from the perceived strength of the competition.

Yet, amid the storm of controversy, the Philippines stood firm in its support for its representative. Despite the national frustration over the placement, the country’s focus quickly shifted to celebrating Ahtisa Manalo’s exceptional performance and composure. Former Miss Universe winners stepped forward to offer powerful, healing words. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach issued a heartfelt message, congratulating Manalo on her journey and emphasizing her future: “What an inspirational journey you’ve had and this is just the beginning. Thank you for carrying the Philippines with so much beauty, heart, and purpose. We are so proud of you… keep shining!! We love you, @ahtisa!” Similarly, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray praised Manalo’s effort, writing: “So proud. We all saw how you left your heart on that stage. Our queen @ahtisa.” Even Vice Ganda, after his initial outrage, turned his focus back to the Filipina representative, declaring: “Philippines let us all CONGRATULATE Ahtisa Manalo!!! She worked hard, performed well and WON it!!!!”

This outpouring of unconditional support, focusing on Manalo’s performance and intrinsic qualities rather than the disputed outcome, solidified her status as the “People’s Queen.” While the crown itself may reside in Mexico, the narrative of the 2025 pageant will forever be defined by the dramatic allegations and the collective conviction of millions that merit was unjustly ignored. The eventual coronation of Fatima Bosch closed one of the most contentious chapters in Miss Universe history, leaving a legacy of unprecedented public distrust and an intense anticipation for the details promised in the coming months regarding the true events that transpired behind the scenes in Thailand.