Nawat Itsaragrisil Breaks Down in Tears and Apologizes Ahead of Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand

Nawat Itsaragrisil breaks down in tears

Miss Universe rocked by controversy

Tension escalates between MGI and MUO

Thai businessman Nawat Itsaragrisil broke down in tears before the media and contestants of Miss Universe 2025 during a pre-event press conference in Bangkok.

The CEO of Miss Universe Thailand publicly apologized following the backlash over his comments about Mexican contestant Fátima Bosch.

“I’m human. Everyone knows these past few days have been full of pressure. But that’s behind us now… Sometimes I can’t control it. I never intended to hurt anyone,” he said, visibly emotional and holding back tears.

Nawat admitted to facing unusual levels of tension following recent scandals surrounding his management. He emphasized that his only goal is to regain the trust of contestants and the international audience.

Speaking directly to the participants, he expressed his remorse: “I respect all of you. I sincerely regret what happened. I want to take this opportunity to apologize to any delegate who felt uncomfortable with what occurred. I’m truly sorry,” he told reporters.

Tension and Accusations Between MGI and Miss Universe 2025

Nawat Itsaragrisil Miss Universe 2025 controversy – Photo: Shutterstock

Nawat’s emotional moment came amid a growing legal dispute between Miss Grand International (MGI) — the organization he founded — and the Miss Universe Organization (MUO).

The controversy with Nawat Itsaragrisil escalated after mutual accusations over sponsorship irregularities and the use of brand images. MUO president Raúl Rocha announced in a video statement that the organization would take legal action over what he called “a series of malicious acts” by Nawat.

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This came after Nawat accused Miss Universe of collaborating with a sponsor linked to online gambling, a violation of Thai law. “They brought banners with a casino name to the hotel where the contestants are staying — something illegal in Thailand,” Nawat told EFE, adding that police had detained a Miss Universe staff member for questioning.

The incident has heightened tensions between the two organizations, which have spent days exchanging public statements and legal threats — threatening to overshadow one of the world’s most prestigious beauty events.

Confusion and Public Disagreements

In addition to the legal battle, disagreements have emerged over the event’s format. Nawat Itsaragrisil proposed a special dinner and a public voting system to select the 10 contestants with the most fan support.

However, Miss Universe organizers rejected the idea, saying it was “not part of the official format” and that “public voting will not affect the final results.”

Tensions have become increasingly visible, especially after the backlash to Nawat’s remarks about Mexican contestant Fátima Bosch, which many fans and former beauty queens labeled as offensive.

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Una publicación compartida por MISS MEXICO NEWS (@missmexico_news)

Who Is Nawat Itsaragrisil?

Born in 1973 in Ratchaburi Province, Thailand, Nawat Itsaragrisil is a producer and businessman with an extensive background in entertainment.

A graduate of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, he began his career as a tour guide and television presenter before founding the Miss Grand International (MGI) pageant in 2013, which quickly gained global recognition.

Since April 2025, Nawat has served as CEO of Miss Universe Thailand, helping secure Bangkok as the host city for Miss Universe 2025, to be held at the Impact Challenger venue.

Now, the entrepreneur faces the biggest challenge of his career — restoring his credibility and rebuilding public trust after weeks of controversy and media scrutiny, according to Milenio.