Miss Mexico, who sparked a walkout after host's bullying, is crowned Miss Universe

She went from walking out after being publicly chided by the pageant’s co-owner to being crowned its 74th victor

She went from walking out after being publicly chided by the pageant’s co-owner to being crowned its 74th victor.

Fátima Bosch Fernández of Mexico was named Miss Universe on Friday, bringing to a close an exceptionally controversial pageant that first made headlines after Thai official Nawat Itsaragrisil berated Bosch, 25, in front of several contestants for not participating in promotional activities.

The competition was further plunged into disarray when two of its judges resigned, one of whom accused the organizers of rigging and threatened a lawsuit.

Two judges quit Miss Universe, one claiming rigged competition03:24It came as Miss Universe, which makes its revenue from licensing its broadcasting rights to various countries, has faced declining viewership in part from concerns over what some see as its objectification of women and declining relevance.

The competition was started in 1952 by a Californian swimwear brand and owned, at least in part, by President Donald Trump from 1996 till 2022.