Questions over this year’s Miss Universe outcome intensified when musician Omar Harfouch publicly claimed that newly crowned winner Fatima Bosch of Mexico was selected through predetermined arrangements involving pageant leadership. His accusations surfaced shortly after Bosch’s victory drew criticism from fans who believed other finalists, including the Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo, delivered stronger performances.
Harfouch went online minutes after the coronation to accuse Miss Universe owner Raul Rocha of leveraging business interests to push Bosch to the top. “Miss Mexico is a fake winner. I, Omar Harfouch, declared yesterday exclusively on HBO America, 24 hours before the Miss Universe final, that Miss Mexico would win because Miss Universe owner Raul Rocha is in business with Fatima Bosch’s father,” he wrote on Instagram.
He also alleged that Rocha had encouraged him to support Bosch well before the competition wrapped up. “Raul Rocha and his son urged me, a week ago in Dubai, to vote for Fatima Bosch because they need her to win ‘because it will be good for our business,’ they said to me!” Harfouch claimed in the same post.
The French-Lebanese musician had already withdrawn from the judging panel earlier in the week, announcing his resignation on Nov. 18 and citing a “disrespectful conversation” with Rocha. He later claimed that the organization relied on an unsanctioned group of evaluators to determine which contestants advanced to the semifinals, adding that at least one person in that circle allegedly had a romantic link to a delegate.
The Miss Universe Organization pushed back against the accusations, issuing a statement rejecting any suggestion that a parallel judging body influenced the outcome. “[MUO] firmly clarifies that no impromptu jury has been created, that no external group has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists, and that all competition evaluations continue to follow the established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols,” the organization said.
A second judge, former footballer Claude Makelele, also exited the selection committee, attributing his departure to “unforeseen personal reasons.”
Bosch’s name had already been in the spotlight earlier in the competition when she became involved in a tense exchange with Thai hosting committee chair Nawat Itsaragrisil, leading to a brief walkout supported by then reigning queen Victoria Theilvig and several other delegates.
