Mexican Fátima Bosch  was crowned the new Miss Universe at the 74th edition of the competition held in Thailand, capping off one of the most tumultuous seasons in the competition’s history.

The contest, founded in the United States and one of the world’s longest-running, was in the spotlight this year because of serious allegations and internal turmoil that highlighted, according to the BBC, cultural differences between the Thai and Mexican owners.

Bose, 25, had already been in the spotlight in early November when she walked out of a competition event. Her decision came after an incident where an official publicly criticized her in front of dozens of contestants and threatened to disqualify those who supported her. A few days later, two members of the jury submitted their resignations, with one of them complaining that the process was “rigged.”

At this year’s event, Thailand’s representative, Pravinar Singh, came second, with delegations from Venezuela, the Philippines, and the Ivory Coast rounding out the top five. Thailand hosted the competition for the fourth time, and this year’s representative was considered a favourite in many online circles.