Miss Universe responds after Fátima Bosch’s pageant advice sparks controversy

Miss Universe has issued a clarification after comments by Fátima Bosch sparked renewed controversy as she said she “wouldn’t advise just anyone” to enter beauty pageants.

For those unversed, the 25-year-old Bosch was speaking at the Mujeres que Transforman, or "Women Who Transform" forum, in Santa Tecla, El Salvador, in late March when she made the remarks.

She explained that pageants should be used with purpose. “If you have an important project, something you want to give visibility to, and you view this platform as a tool to serve that purpose, then go for it,” she said at the public forum.

Bosch also spoke about her own experience after winning the title, saying it has been challenging.

"I certainly didn't choose to enter in the traditional sense," she continued. “For me, it has been very difficult since winning, mainly because these pageants aren't accustomed to a 'real' woman: a woman who doesn't fit the exact measurements they demand, or a woman who actually has a voice of her own,” she then said, calling the experience of serving as Miss Universe "scary."

In response, Miss Universe spokesperson Miguel Ángel Martínez has now shared a statement with People, insisting that the 2026 winner's remarks were misunderstood. "Fátima’s recent remarks have been subject to varied interpretations across different platforms."

"She has clarified that her intent was not to discourage participation in pageantry or to question its value, but rather to emphasize that it is one of many paths available for women to express their voice, purpose, and ambitions," the statement continued. 

"For more than seven decades, Miss Universe has served as a global platform supporting and elevating women across diverse fields."

This isn't the first controversy Bosch has been embroiled in. During a pre-pageant event, she publicly challenged an official, saying, “Because I have a voice… You are not respecting me as a woman,” before walking out.