Image from Wikimedia
Over the past 48 hours, the worlds of fashion, entertainment, and law enforcement have collided in a shocking way around the name of Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú — president and co-owner of the Miss Universe Organisation — who has become the target of formal investigations in Mexico. The accusations range from drug and arms trafficking to fuel smuggling and involvement in a transnational criminal organisation.
The revelations came just days after the 2025 edition of the contest, an event already marked by turbulence that has now taken on new proportions. Beyond the legal issues, this year’s pageant is at the centre of serious allegations of fraud and result manipulation.
The allegations and the credibility crisis
The first major warning came from one of the judges, Omar Harfouch — who resigned from the panel just days before the final, claiming that the decision about the finalists had already been made by a secret committee involving people outside the official jury. “The voting process was completely manipulated,” he stated.
Harfouch was not alone: another judge, Claude Makélélé, also stepped down, citing personal reasons, but the atmosphere of dissatisfaction and mistrust had already taken over.
The winner, Mexico’s representative Fátima Bosch, was crowned amid accusations of favouritism — with rumours suggesting that companies linked to her father held contracts with the organisation, raising suspicions of a conflict of interest.
Following her coronation, Bosch reported being subjected to a wave of online abuse, hate speech, and even death threats. She stated that she had been the target of misogyny, prejudice, and defamation in response to her victory.
The situation escalates: crime and trafficking allegations
Alongside the accusations of fraud, the criminal investigations involving Raúl Rocha have brought even more serious allegations to light — drug, weapons, and fuel trafficking between Guatemala and Mexico, the use of shell companies, and suspicious financial movements. Mexican authorities have issued arrest warrants and claim that the network under investigation operates through strong transnational coordination.
With the combination of serious criminal accusations and claims of result manipulation, the future of the contest — and of the Miss Universe Organisation itself — is now under severe threat. The reputational damage is clear: to many, an institution once associated with glamour, culture, and global visibility is now overshadowed by allegations of corruption and distrust.
A moment for reflection
This scandal reminds us that the world of fashion, pageants, and entertainment — often perceived as light and celebratory — is also permeated by power, interests, money, and influence. The issue is not only individual; it is structural. This is a moment of transition — not only for Miss Universe, but for how we understand celebrity, spectacle, and accountability.
The case demands more than investigations: it requires transparency, ethics, commitment — and above all, justice for everyone involved.
