Background on Miss Universe and Its Current Situation
Miss Universe, one of the most prestigious beauty pageants globally, has announced that it will be closing its offices in Mexico City due to alleged “unfounded attacks” with “political motivations.” These attacks have hindered the organization’s proper functioning, according to a statement released by Miss Universe.
Who is Raúl Rocha Cantú?
Raúl Rocha Cantú is a Mexican businessman and one of the owners of the Miss Universe pageant. Recently, he has been facing accusations since 2024 related to drug trafficking, arms dealing, and stolen fuel in Mexico.
Reasons for Closing the Mexico City Offices
The decision to close the Mexico City offices stems from several factors, as outlined in an official statement by Miss Universe:
- Legal uncertainty
- Insecurity in the country
- “Unfounded and politically motivated attacks”
The organization believes that the current conditions in Mexico do not provide a safe and stable environment for an international organization of its magnitude to operate effectively.
Recent Controversies Surrounding Miss Universe
This year’s Miss Universe pageant, held in Thailand on November 21, was won by Mexican contestant Fátima Bosh. The event itself was not without controversy, as Bosh engaged in verbal altercations with one of the pageant’s directors and faced accusations from former judges suggesting she was favored to win.
These controversies reportedly reached Alejandro Gertz Manero, who resigned as Mexico’s attorney general on November 27 at the request of President Claudia Sheinbaum. Gertz Manero claimed he would be appointed as an ambassador, but rumors suggest tensions between him and the president following leaks about investigations into Rocha Cantú’s business dealings.
Bernardo Bosh and Alleged Business Ties
Bernardo Bosh, the father of the current Miss Universe and a former Pemex executive, has denied allegations that he has business connections with Rocha Cantú. These rumors have further complicated the situation surrounding Miss Universe’s decision to close its Mexico City offices.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Raúl Rocha Cantú? Raúl Rocha Cantú is a Mexican businessman and one of the owners of the Miss Universe pageant, currently facing accusations related to drug trafficking, arms dealing, and stolen fuel in Mexico.
- Why is Miss Universe closing its offices in Mexico City? The organization cites “unfounded attacks” with “political motivations,” along with legal uncertainty, insecurity, and an unstable environment for their decision to relocate all operations to New York.
- What recent controversies has Miss Universe faced? This year’s pageant winner, Fátima Bosh, was involved in verbal altercations with a pageant director and faced accusations of favoritism from former judges. Additionally, the resignation of Mexico’s attorney general, Alejandro Gertz Manero, amidst rumors of tensions with President Claudia Sheinbaum over investigations into Rocha Cantú’s business dealings, has added to the controversy.
- What are the allegations against Bernardo Bosh? Bernardo Bosh, father of Miss Universe Fátima Bosh and a former Pemex executive, has denied allegations suggesting he has business connections with Raúl Rocha Cantú.
