Miss Universe Contestant Urges Fair Investigation as Winner Supports Pageant Amid Ongoing Controversies

Melissa Sapini and Fatima Bosch.
Credit :

Mohan Raj/Getty; Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Melissa Sapini, a contestant in the Miss Universe pageant, has called for an investigation into the organization following controversies leading up to the event.
• On November 21, 2025, Fátima Bosch from Mexico was crowned the Miss Universe 2025 titleholder in Bangkok.
• This win followed allegations of rigging and the resignation of three selection committee members shortly before the pageant; the organization has denied these claims.

Nearly two weeks after the Miss Universe pageant crowned its 2025 winner, contestant Melissa Sapini has voiced her concerns over the integrity of the international pageant organization, particularly regarding the lead-up to the event.

In a statement shared publicly, Sapini, who represented Haiti at the competition held on November 21 in Bangkok, urged for an independent investigation into the allegations surrounding the pageant.

Her statements followed an interview with Miss Universe winner Fátima Bosch, who defended the event on ABC News. In her remarks, Sapini differentiated her call for inquiry from Bosch’s position. “Let me be clear: this is not about Fátima. This is about protecting the women who cannot safely speak for themselves,” she stated. “The narrative being pushed right now threatens the future and the integrity of Miss Universe.”

Melissa Sapini represents Haiti during the national costume presentation at Miss Universe 2025.

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty

Sapini stated, “Jokes about social media followers and Walmart crowns will not distract from the serious allegations we are raising,” referencing Bosch’s defensive comments about competition integrity.

The controversy intensified earlier this month following a heated confrontation between pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil and Bosch. The event, which was broadcasted, included allegations that Itsaragrisil referred to Bosch in a disparaging manner. Sapini criticized these claims, asserting, “Claiming it was a misunderstanding is insulting to every multilingual woman in the competition.”

Melissa Sapini at Miss USA 2024.

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Further, Sapini criticized the conditions during the pageant, citing numerous instances of contestants falling ill. “So many girls were hospitalized. Girls were dropping like flies, left and right,” she recounted. These statements come amid discussions about the treatment and health management of contestants during the event.

Following Sapini’s public remarks, the Miss Universe Organization is yet to respond formally to the call for an investigation. Meanwhile, the implications of these controversies raise significant questions about the future integrity of the Miss Universe brand and its operations.

Melissa Sapini at Miss USA 2024.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Before her appearance in the Miss Universe pageant, Sapini held the title of Miss Massachusetts USA and participated in Miss USA 2024. Upon her return from Thailand, she described her experience as “unheard of” in the pageantry world. “Every single day, there was something,” she remarked, highlighting the series of events that contributed to a tense atmosphere among competitors.

The escalating controversies and calls for reform within the Miss Universe Organization may lead to significant changes in the management and oversight of future competitions.