Nawat Itsaragrisil
Itsaragrisil in 2025
Born (1965-08-10) 10 August 1965 (age 60)
Damnoen Saduak, Ratchaburi, Thailand[1]
Citizenship
  • Thailand
  • Dominica[2]
Alma mater University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce[3]
Occupations
  • Media Personality
  • Businessman
Years active 1994–Present

Nawat Itsaragrisil (/ˈnɑːwæt ˌɪtsərəˈɡrɪsɪl/; Thai: ณวัฒน์ อิสรไกรศีล; born 10 August 1965) is a Thai media personality and businessperson, best known as the president of Miss Grand International organization, the national director of Miss Universe Thailand and the executive director of Miss Universe organization.[4]

Nawat first became known for travel TV shows, first hosting Exhibition Show and then Kon Thueng Chan (ก่อนถึงจันทร์) for ITV.[5] He then joined Channel 3, hosting the travel segment variety talk show Today Show and becoming the director and executive producer of the Miss Thailand World beauty pageant from 2007 to 2012. He started his own beauty pageant franchise, Miss Grand Thailand and Miss Grand International in 2013. In 2025 Nawat acquired Miss Universe Thailand license from TPN Global as well as appointed as executive director of Miss Universe pageant.

Appearances

Television

Controversies

In 2016, Nawat was reported by Miss Iceland 2015, Arna Ýr Jónsdóttir to have said that "she's too fat and needed to lose weight" prior to the finals of Miss Grand International 2016 held in Las Vegas on October 25, 2016,[6] eventually dropping out of the pageant before the coronation due to the controversy. In a statement, Nawat said that they give similar advice to other contestants who asked what should they do to improve in order to win. Nawat eventually said that he had spoken with Jónsdóttir along with the company's vice president and clarified matters.[7] In 2022, Nawat has also publicly stated in a live stream that "Miss Vietnam had too long a torso and too short legs" as to the reason why Miss Vietnam failed to make top 10 in Miss Grand International 2022, enraging Vietnamese beauty fans.

Nawat has also expressed displeasure[8] about the behavior of Filipino pageant fans online. This is after several incidents of Filipino pageant fans attacking him on social media. These incidents include accusations of Nawat rigging the results of Miss Grand International, of him having a bias against Filipina contestants,[9][10] an Instagram post where Nawat insinuated that the coronation of Catriona Gray as Miss Universe 2018 was a rigged affair[11] and saying that Miss Philippines 2018 didn't make it due to the rest of the contestants being better than her.[11]

Nawat has also gotten into a verbal row with the Miss Supranational organization after the then reigning Miss Supranational Chanique Rabe did not include Miss Grand into what she considers the "Big Five" of pageants, saying that those pageants were "minor crowns".[12]

In 2025, Nawat publicly body-shamed Rachel Gupta, the winner of Miss Grand International 2024, through an Instagram post after she announced her decision to step down from her role.[13] He shared two images of Rachel labeled 'Before' and 'After,' insinuating she had undergone cosmetic surgery. He also posted another photo accusing her of altering her appearance surgically. The Indian Pageant and Glamour responded, stating, "There should be no place for someone like him in an organization such as Miss Universe. It should be a platform for empowerment, not harassment".[14]

2025 Miss Universe

In November 2025, he insulted Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch, who went on to win Miss Universe 2025, by referring to her as a "dumb head" should she follow the orders from Mexico's Miss Universe national director, who he claimed to have instructed Bosch not to post content related to Thailand, and in spite of her clarifying that it was a misunderstanding.[15] He then got security personnel to escort her out.[16] Further, when contestants began walking out of the room, he instructed security in the Thai language to "shut the door", seemingly to prevent contestants from leaving. After doing this Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig walked out of the hall and all other contestants followed her.[17][18][19] Nawat claimed that he was misunderstood,[20] however Raul Rocha, the president of Miss Universe Organization, stepped in thereafter and declared that Nawat would be restricted from participating in subsequent activities as much as possible while bringing in executives from MUO to manage the rest of the contest.[15] Nawat subsequently apologised for his actions.[20] In another apology to all contestants, he reiterated that he was misunderstood, that he didn't use the word 'dumb head', but 'damage' instead.[16]

References

  1. ^ "ประวัติณวัฒน์ อิสรไกรศีล ข้อมูลล่าสุดของณวัฒน์ อิสรไกรศีล".
  2. ^ อีจัน บันเทิง (24 January 2022). "ณวัฒน์ โชว์ พาสปอร์ตเล่มใหม่ ปลื้มได้รับ สัญชาติโดมินิกา". E-Jan (in Thai). Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  3. ^ "คุณณวัฒน์ อิสรไกรศีล". University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (in Thai). Archived from the original on 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  4. ^ Yap, Jade Veronique (2025-02-17). "Is Miss Universe Thailand now under Nawat Itsaragrisil?". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
  5. ^ ""ณวัฒน์ อิสรไกรศีล"กับชีวิตมนุษย์เดินทาง". Thairath Online (in Thai). 17 July 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Miss Iceland 2015 is too fat, says beauty contest". Iceland Monitor.
  7. ^ Bianca Britton (26 October 2016). "Miss Iceland's response to body shaming". CNN.
  8. ^ "A look back at the biggest pageants, music, movies in 2021". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  9. ^ Mr.Nawat Itsaragrisil (March 28, 2021). "นาทีประกาศผลมิสแกรนด์อินเตอร์เนชั่นแนล 2020 ครับ". Facebook.
  10. ^ Bracamonte, Earl D. C. (July 15, 2021). "Nawat gets wish to have Philippines' 3rd Samantha for Miss Grand International". Philstar.com.
  11. ^ a b "What you need to know about the Miss Grand International pageant". RAPPLER. 23 October 2019.
  12. ^ Bracamonte, Earl D. C. (January 31, 2022). "Samantha Panlilio speech used to address Miss Grand International, Miss Supranational spat". Philstar.com.
  13. ^ "How Nawat Itsaragrisil Built a Pageant Empire on Body-Shaming and Stock Manipulation - Dahr Jamail". 2025-11-07. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  14. ^ "Internet calls Miss Grand International President 'shameless' after he body shames Rachel Gupta in 'shocking' post". 31 May 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Miss Universe president slams Thai director for Miss Universe Mexico 'dumb' remarks, which led to Bangkok walkout". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  16. ^ a b "Nawat Itsaragrisil sorry for Miss Universe fiasco, claims he didn't call Miss Mexico 'dumb head'". The Straits Times. 2025-11-05. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  17. ^ "Walkouts and tears as power struggle in Miss Universe looms". ABS CBN news. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Nawat Itsaragrisil apologizes for recent Miss Universe issues". GMA News Online. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  19. ^ "Miss Universe chief slams Thai executive who called Mexican contestant 'dumb': 'You need to stop'". Hindustan Times. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Miss Universe contestants walk out after organiser berates Miss Mexico". www.bbc.com. 2025-11-05. Retrieved 2025-11-05.