RM Miss Universe Judge Resigns Days Before the Finals, Claims Miss Mexico is a “Fake Winner”
Omar Harfouch, a judge on the Miss Universe panel, resigned just days before the 2025 finals, and shortly afterward, accused Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, of being a “fake winner.” In a controversial Instagram post, Harfouch stated that Bosch’s victory was pre-determined due to business ties, specifically between her father and Raúl Rocha, the owner of Miss Universe.
Harfouch claimed that 24 hours before the coronation, he had given an exclusive interview on HBO where he predicted Miss Mexico’s win, explaining that Rocha had a vested interest in her success. “Raúl Rocha and his son urged me a week ago in Dubai to vote for Fátima Bosch,” Harfouch alleged. “They said it would be good for business.”
In addition to these claims, Harfouch revealed that a documentary by award-winning director Pat McGee was in the works to explore Miss Mexico’s controversial win. The documentary is expected to air on HBO in May 2026, offering further details on what Harfouch described as a “fake winner.”
Why Did Omar Harfouch Resign?
Harfouch, a Lebanese-French composer, was the first of the eight judges to quit the panel. In his resignation statement, he explained that he could no longer be part of a competition where the voting process felt compromised. He criticized the “secret vote” that took place just days before the finals, where a small group of non-official jurors pre-selected 30 contestants out of the 136 who initially entered the competition.
The identities of the 30 contestants chosen in this vote remain a mystery, with only one person—affiliated with a national organization of a competing country—knowing the results. Harfouch pointed out that this created a significant conflict of interest. He also condemned the process, stating that pretending the votes were legitimate would be dishonest, especially when countries eliminated through this system could be facing serious geopolitical issues, discrimination, or conflict.
“I could not stand pretending that the voting process was legitimate,” he said. “I refuse to bear responsibility for a decision-making process in which I had no part.”
Miss Universe Organization Denies Allegations
In response to Harfouch’s resignation and his allegations, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) issued a statement refuting the claims of a manipulated vote. They reiterated that all judging procedures followed official guidelines and that the “Beyond the Crown” program, which Harfouch mentioned, was separate from the competition’s evaluation process.
However, Harfouch rejected the MUO’s statement, accusing them of indirectly confirming the existence of the “secret” entity, “Beyond the Crown.” He argued that the program, which allegedly removed 100 contestants before the finals, was an illegal operation.
Fans React to the Controversy
The allegations have sparked an outpouring of frustration among fans of the competition. Some commenters have sided with Harfouch, expressing disbelief over Fátima Bosch’s win. One user wrote, “I’m Mexican, but Fátima didn’t deserve to win.” Another commenter, supporting the idea that the competition was rigged, said, “Now we understand why you resigned. Miss Côte d’Ivoire was robbed.”
Other fans expressed their own opinions on the rightful winner, with one adding, “Thailand deserved to win, and the 1st runner-up should have been either Côte d’Ivoire or the Philippines.”
At the time of writing, the Miss Universe Organization has yet to address the allegations surrounding Miss Mexico’s controversial victory.
