When Miss Universe Mexico Fatima Bosch was announced as the winner of Miss Universe on Friday, November 20, in Bangkok, she was understandably overcome with emotion.
But as she made her first walk as Miss Universe, she took a moment on the runway to thank God for all He has done to help her.
Carrying a large bouquet and with tears running down her face, Bosch steadied her tiara and made the Sign of the Cross before pointing up in the air, acknowledging God's presence throughout her life.
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On her Instagram story ahead of the pageant, Bosch posted a picture of the things she had with her at the Miss Universe pageant. In addition to fruit snacks and a Mexican flag, she brought with her a pink rosary, a sequin-adorned image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and a framed picture of the Virgin Mary.
"We've arrived" she wrote.
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"God placed me here to bring light," she wrote.
In her first official statement after being crowned, Bosch made a powerful testimony about her faith in God.
"Today I reaffirmed that what God has destined for you, neither envy stops it, nor destiny aborts it, nor luck changes it. Long live Christ the King ❤️ 🔥," Bosch wrote on her Instagram account following her crowning.
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Bosch has never shied away from proclaiming her faith both on the pageant stage and in her social media presence.
When she was crowned Miss Universe Mexico in September, she said "Because dreams come true and because God willed it, I am here today."
She also has an Instagram story titled "CR" (Cristo Rey, "Christ the King"), where she shares inspiring Catholic messages, pictures of churches, and musings on faith.
Cristo Rey and Viva Cristo Rey (Christ the King and Long Live Christ the King) are important parts of Mexican faith because this devotion and cry was frequently on the lips of those who were martyred during the Cristero War in the early 1900s.
Miss Universe controversy
Bosch's win was the ending of a pageant that began with a protest walkout.
In early November, Bosch led a walkout after the director of Miss Universe Thailand and the Miss Universe Organization, Nawat Itsaragrisil, berated her in front of her fellow pageant contestants during a pre-pageant ceremony. Nawat reportedly called Bosch "dumb" and threatened to disqualify her and anyone else who protested.
In response, Bosch said she was "not afraid to make my voice heard. It's here stronger than ever. I have a purpose. I have things to say."
"We're in the 21st century," she said, adding that she is "not a doll to be made up, styled and have my clothes changed."
"I came here to be a voice for all the women and all the girls who fight for causes and to tell my country that I'm completely committed to that."
Miss Universe Organization later condemned Nawat's comments, and he apologized to Bosch.
