Miss Universe 2025 might be taking place in Thailand, but the people hosting the pageant are an integral part of our communities. When the event kicks off on November 20th, Carlos Adyan, Danilo Carrera, Jessica Carrillo, and Jacqueline Bracamontes will be the hosts. Remezcla sat down with Bracamontes and Carrera to talk about this year’s pageant, what to expect, and yes… that controversy.
First, some background. The beauty pageant got off to a bumpy start after several contestants walked out of an event when Thai pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil berated Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, in public. The incident took place ahead of a scheduled sash ceremony and was broadcast live on the Miss Universe Thailand Facebook page.
How did Bracamontes feel about what happened? “Total admiration for Fátima,” Bracamontes said. “I remember when I participated in Miss Universo, I was 20 years old, if I’m not mistaken, or 19. And I don’t know how I would have reacted. It was a great lesson for me, because the 19-year-old Jackie, maybe she would have said: No, if you go, you’re not going to get to compete. Maybe the 19-year-old Jackie would have stayed.”
But she’s glad Bosch didn’t. “She did the right thing. Today, women can’t stay quiet. So, she got up, and several followed her, but she didn’t care if there were 10 or all of them. She got up and said, I’m not going to be here. And she did it in a very polite, very safe way. And I repeat, my total admiration for Fatima.”
Carrera agreed. “I think Miss Universe is the biggest platform in the world for female empowerment. It’s an incredible platform that gives voice to women. And at the end of the day, times have changed. And it’s true, Jackie, maybe in your time, people, especially women, could say: No, I’ll stay quiet, I won’t say anything. But it has changed.”
Bracamontes also hoped that a moment like what happened with Miss Mexico could serve as inspiration for other girls and women. “I’m a mother of five girls,” she told us. “I cried when I saw her talk afterwards, the way she talked. And I said, “This is what I want my daughters to see,” and I told them, “This happened.” And I said, “If something like this happens to you, you have to stand up and speak up. You can’t stay quiet.” So, it was even an educational moment for my daughters, without planning it.”
This all ties into the idea that Miss Universe, as it stands, is outdated. Bracamonte spoke to that, telling us, “The world has evolved,” and adding that the pageant is very much not what it was when she competed in 2001, “When I competed, there was no social media,” which meant that they had to take what they got, coverage wise and do their best to get the media attention that could help them win. “Today, each of them has control over what they want to say.” And the message they send.
And this year, in particular, that message these women are sending is already a positive one. It’s a message of community, self-empowerment, and beauty that is very much not skin deep. Is there any better promo for Miss Universe than this?
The 2025 Miss Universe pageant will be available to stream via Telemundo and Peacock on Nov. 20, starting at 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT/5 p.m. PT in the U.S.
Interview conducted by Lyra Hale.
