Who is Nawat Itsaragrisil, the Miss Thailand Director Who Insulted Miss Mexico?
Credit: Instagram @nawat.tv
Following the recent controversy of Miss Thailand Director Nawat Itsaragrisil insulting Miss Mexico and trying to scold her in public for missing a sponsor shoot, an exchange that caused multiple contestants and the current Miss Universe to exit the room, there has been a renewed interest in the figure of Nawat Itsaragrisil. Particularly considering that the video, which was being livestreamed on the Miss Universe Thailand Facebook page, makes him look anything but good.
But who is the man who called security on Miss Mexico, referred to her as “dumb,” and threatened contestants who left the room? Nawat Itsaragrisil, 60, is a Thai media personality and businessman who serves as the President of Miss Grand International, the National Director of Miss Universe Thailand, and Executive Director of the Miss Universe Organization.
He is a popular figure on TV in Thailand, where he’s hosted travel and talk shows such as Exhibition Show and Today Show. But he’s also had his share of controversies within the pageant world, particularly due to his involvement with Miss Grand International. There are enough that, by the time the video of him berating Miss Mexico went public, there were a lot of voices pointing out that this was on par for the course for Nawat Itsaragrisil.
Just a few examples:
- In 2016, Miss Iceland 2015, Arna Ýr Jónsdóttir, accused him of calling her “too fat” and telling her to lose weight before the Miss Grand International finals. The executive defended himself by saying that his comments were merely “advice.”
- In 2022, he criticized Miss Vietnam’s body on a livestream.
- In 2024, he was accused of body-shaming Miss Grand International 2024 winner Rachel Gupta.
Now, he yelled at Miss Mexico in front of all the other contestants and the reigning Miss Universe.
Nawat Itsaragrisil responded to the controversy on a livestream posted on his official social media accounts, where he expressed that he understood his remarks might have caused discomfort. Speaking in Thai, he extended a general apology, but did not name Bosch directly or make any reference to the words he directed at Miss Mexico.
“If someone doesn’t feel well, if someone feels uncomfortable, if anyone was affected, I apologize to everyone,” he said. “I already spoke and apologized to the rest of the girls in the room, about seventy-five girls.”
