Louie Heredia looks back at Miss Universe 2025 results 'controversy'

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December 17, 2025 | 1:43pm

MANILA, Philippines — Singer Louie Heredia doubled down on the need for changes in the Miss Universe pageant ahead of its 75th edition next year in Puerto Rico.

The artist sat down with broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez to discuss the Miss Universe 2025 competition, where Louie served as a judge in the preliminaries and coronation night, particularly the outcome that many still deem controversial.

Mexico's Fatima Bosch was crowned the new titleholder, but rigging allegations continue to hound the Miss Universe Organization especially as co-owners Raul Rocha and Anne Jakrajutatip face individual legal issues of their own.

Louie began by retelling how he was tapped to be a judge; his early favorites being the delegates from Colombia, Venezuela, Cote d'Ivoire, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, hosts Thailand, and of course the Philippines; and how Regine Velasquez was at one point in consideration for the jury.

During the Question and Answer segment, Louie initially thought the crown would either go to Thailand's Praveenar Singh or the Philippines' Ahtisa Manalo, going on to praise the Filipina's performance in the pageant.

Though Louie did give Fatima high scores, he still found himself exchanging glances with his fellow judges when the Mexican beauty queen's victory was confirmed.

"In fairness to the other judges, talagang none of us talked about our scores backstage. We never discussed 'Dapat ito, dapat ganyan,' wala, nothing, zero," Louie shared, adding each judge stuck to their scoring tabs.

Louie then brought up the concerns of fellow back-up judge Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova that more transparency was needed given that in the past, accounting firms were charged with tabulating and certifying results each round.

After briefly discussing the rigging allegations of resigned judge Omar Harfouch, Louie reiterated that for the final results, he could only speak for his own as judges never saw each other's scores.

"I didn't realize na sa Miss Universe, ang pinakaimportante ay ang judges," Louie shared." We come in sabay, all of eight of us with bodyguards [so] nobody can touch us, and after show we leave the area sabay ulit and put in a room."

The singer explained it's so the judges won't be harassed with questions by those unsatisfied by results, as was the case this year, though Louie assured his life wasn't in danger and even quipped that he drank later that night.

Korina corrected Louie's statement that an accounting firm would have been given more importance, had there been one tapped.

Louie did express hope that with Miss Universe marking its 75th year in 2026, proper changes will be observed especially as host Puerto Rico is asking for transparency.

The two also discussed Fatima's alleged connections to Raul, Anne's absence from the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, and the sashing incident involving Fatima and Miss Universe Thailand National Director Nawat Itsaragrisil.

"I have to say, they have to do something really drastic to bring back the 'tiwala' sa Miss Universe ulit, kasi hindi maganda ang nangyari," Louie ended. — Video from the Rated Korina YouTube channel

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