Who Is Raul Rocha? Facts About the President of the Miss Universe Organization
The Mexican entrepreneur is under scrutiny following the highly controversial conclusion of the 2025 Miss Universe coronation night.
Published on Nov 27, 2025
The Miss Universe 2025 competition has been overshadowed by mounting controversy. At the center of it all is Raul Rocha Cantu, CEO and President of the Miss Universe Organization, who now faces a wave of allegations after last week’s coronation.
Longtime pageant followers and industry insiders have since openly voiced frustration, with many questioning the legitimacy of the results.
French-Lebanese composer Omar Harfouch, for one, resigned from the judging panel days before the coronation, and later called Mexico's Fatima Bosch a “fake winner.” He then made a series of scathing revelations, among which claimed that Fatima and Raul were romantically linked, and that her win was influenced by Raul’s business ties to her father.
Ahead, here are some essential facts to know about the Mexican business magnate.
Who Is Raul Rocha? What to Know About the President of the Miss Universe Organization
He was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
He has a degree in Business Administration.
At 19, Raul completed his Business Administration degree and immediately pursued his entrepreneurial ventures.
He launched his first business at 21.
Raul established CYMSA, a machinery parts manufacturer, and quickly expanded the firm’s reach globally. By his early twenties, the company had become a key player in Mexico’s industrial sector.
He has an extensive business portfolio.
Over the years, Raul amassed a broad portfolio of businesses across multiple industries.
He’s ventured into the restaurant and entertainment sectors, developing a network of 29 entertainment centers and dining concepts. The project has employed over 4,000 people across 16 states, becoming one of the industry’s most robust private enterprises.
His portfolio further spans energy, aviation, construction, marketing, retail technology, automotive, hospitality, and large-scale event production. He founded several energy companies—including Soluciones Gasíferas del Sur, BSE Combustibles, and Legacy Energy (Guatemala). He also launched Century Aviation, a major private aviation provider that manages FBO facilities in Toluca and Monterrey, Mexico.
Additional holdings include Expansión 2000 (construction), Punto X Punto Promociones (marketing and retail technology), TicketApp (ticketing and event production), and Ariston (automotive).
He joined the Miss Universe Organization in 2024.
In January 2024, Thai businesswoman Jakapong “Anne” Jakrajutatip sold half of her stake in the Miss Universe Organization to Raul due to financial challenges. The acquisition gave him 50% ownership, shifting MUO’s chief operations across Latin America, the United States, and Thailand.
By November 2024, he also held hosting rights when the competition was staged in Mexico.
He currently serves as the organization’s CEO and President.
He is currently facing a series of controversies.
The Miss Universe 2025 coronation in Bangkok triggered intense backlash.
In the lead-up to the event, the pageant was already under fire for issues involving Thai organizer Nawat Itsaragrisil, including disputes with Miss Universe Thailand’s licensee and concerns about his conduct during pageant activities.
The tension escalated during the November 21 coronation when Mexico’s Fatima Bosch—who had previously been berated by Nawat—was announced as the winner.
The outcome was met with widespread criticism. Olivia Yacé of Côte d’Ivoire, who finished as fourth runner-up, even withdrew her Miss Universe Africa and Oceania title in protest.
Soon after, more allegations surfaced. Omar Harfouch, who resigned before the event, asserted that Fatima's victory stemmed from a business relationship between her father and Raul.
Accusations escalated when Omar posted an alleged photo of Raul and Fatima hugging with the caption, “Do you know who these people are?”
On November 27, new reports emerged claiming Raul had been charged with drug, arms, and fuel trafficking between Guatemala and Mexico.
According to People Magazine, citing Mexican newspaper Reforma, Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office reportedly considers him an alleged leader of a group smuggling fuel through the Usumacinta River into Querétaro, Mexico. An arrest warrant was requested in August by Yazmín Mayoral Marín of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime.
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