Several contestants have walked out of a Miss Universe event after an official from host nation Thailand publicly berated Miss Mexico in a tense confrontation.
At a pre-pageant ceremony, Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil told off Fatima Bosch in front of dozens of contestants for failing to post promotional content.
When she objected, Mr Itsaragrisil called security and threatened to disqualify those supporting her. Ms Bosch then left the room and others joined her in solidarity.
Video of the incident, which was live streamed, has been shared online. The Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) has condemned Mr Itsaragrisil's malicious behaviour, for which he has since apologised.
The Miss Universe contestants, who are the winners of national pageants in their home countries, attended the event in their sashes and gowns.
Some can be heard shouting back at Mr Itsaragrisil in the video, after he raises his voice to reprimand Ms Bosch and repeatedly tells her to stop talking.
As many of them stand to show support, Mr Itsaragrisil says: If anyone wants to continue the contest, sit down. If you step out, the rest of the girls continue.
Despite this, the majority of the women appear standing, with several heading towards the door.
After leaving the event, Ms Bosch told the press the 60-year-old executive was not respectful and claimed he had called her dumb. Mr Itsaragrisil has disputed this, insisting his words had been misunderstood.
His conduct prompted a stern rebuke from the MUO, which has sent a delegation of international executives to take over running the competition.
In a video statement, MUO President Raul Rocha expressed disappointment, stating that Mr Itsaragrisil had humiliated, insulted and showed a lack of respect to Ms Bosch, adding that he committed a serious abuse by calling security to intimidate her.
Mr Itsaragrisil's involvement in the pageant will be limited or potentially eliminated, with the MUO announcing plans for legal action against him.
Among those who walked out was reigning Miss Universe, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark, who stated: This is about women's rights... to trash another girl is beyond disrespectful... That's why I'm taking my coat and I'm walking out.
Ms Bosch reaffirmed her commitment to being a voice for women and girls fighting for their causes, stating, I came here to be a voice for all the women and all the girls who fight for causes.
Despite the controversy, the Miss Universe competition continued with a welcome event in Bangkok, and the winner will be crowned on November 21.
