Fatima Bosch’s triumph as Miss Universe 2025 not only placed her at the center of the pageant industry, but also left her in the middle of a climate of controversy. In networks and in the media, questions about the legitimacy of the result have multiplied, and that discussion intensified after a tense interview on Telemundo, where the Mexican was pressured to talk about the controversies surrounding the pageant and issues unrelated to her performance on stage.
In this environment, one of the voices that intervened publicly was Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996, who decided to share a frontal advice from her experience.
In a live broadcast through her networks, Machado recalled that she herself experienced attacks and doubts about her coronation. She put it in perspective with a phrase that reveals how long these kinds of controversies go on: “30 years later they still say that I shouldn’t win Miss Universe. People are so absurd that they still think that”. With that comparison, she made it clear that criticism of a winner can go on for years, even when the reign is already behind her.
From that experience, she suggested to Bosch not to get into the game of responding to every controversy. Her recommendation was to focus on what, according to her, a Miss Universe should represent: a symbol of women intellectually, spiritually, politically, socially and physically, beyond gossip and current events.
“Enjoy your crown” and take care of your awards: Alicia Machado to Fatima Bosch
Machado was even more direct in her practical message. He told Bosch to go ahead, to enjoy his reign and not to allow anyone to take away what he has won.
In her words: “You go ahead… enjoy your crown, collect your prizes and don’t let them take a dollar from you”. In the same tone, she assured to know her preparation and affirmed that her victory is explained by the work behind, even mentioning Osmel Sousa as part of that preparation: “I know how you prepared yourself… Osmel Sousa prepared you, that’s why you won”.
Another central point of Machado’s advice was the need to shield herself from the media. She considered that a beauty queen must have professional support to face difficult interviews. That is why she recommended that the organization assign Bosch a qualified person to prepare her before each appearance: someone who can tell her which topics are appropriate for her and which are not, and who is also fluent in English and Spanish. Her sentence was clear: “Talk to the organization, get a qualified person… who speaks English and Spanish, to help you”.
Machado also questioned Telemundo’s handling of the interview, pointing out a lack of prudence and delicacy in the type of questions, which, according to her, were disrespectful and minimizing to women.
To this scenario is added an even more complex environment for Bosch: a criminal complaint for alleged defamation filed by Nawat Itsaragrisil, director of Miss Universe Thailand, related to statements about whether he called her a “fool”. In the midst of this pressure, Alicia Machado closed with public support for the Mexican: “That is the job of a Miss Universe… you have all my support my queen and go ahead”.
Here you can watch the video with Alicia Machado’s powerful message to Fátima Bosch.
Find out more at ‘QueOnnda.com’.
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