Miss Universe Collapses on Parade Float at Ambato's Diamond Anniversary Carnival — A Reminder That Altitude Spares No One

Even beauty queens aren't immune to 8,400 feet.

What Happened

Fátima Bosch, the reigning Miss Universe 2025, collapsed on her parade float during the Desfile de la Confraternidad — the main daytime parade of Ambato's 75th annual Fiesta de la Fruta y de las Flores — on Sunday, February 15.

Witnesses reported that Bosch appeared pale and visibly weakened minutes before the incident. She lost her balance while standing atop a large allegorical float, grabbed the railing to steady herself, then fell to her knees. She requested air and reported difficulty breathing. Paramedics attended to her on the float, and she was removed from the parade.

Crucially, she did not fully lose consciousness — Ecuadorian media described the episode as "se desvaneció" (became faint) rather than a full blackout.

Was It Altitude Sickness?

The immediate speculation was soroche — altitude sickness. Ambato sits at 2,577 meters (8,465 feet), and the condition routinely affects unacclimatized visitors to Ecuador's highland cities.

However, the picture is more nuanced:

Arguments for altitude:

• Ambato is at 8,465 feet — high enough to cause symptoms in many visitors
• Bosch had only arrived in Ecuador on February 13, giving her just two days to adjust
• The symptoms — dizziness, breathlessness, weakness — are classic soroche indicators

Arguments against altitude as the sole cause:

• Bosch lives in Mexico City (~2,240 meters / 7,350 feet) — she's somewhat acclimatized to elevation, though Ambato is still 340 meters higher
• Dr. Esteban Ortiz, an Ecuadorian physician, publicly suggested the episode was more likely caused by "agotamiento o una inadecuada alimentación previa" (exhaustion or inadequate pre-event nutrition)
• Bosch was on an intense international tour — she'd traveled from Mexico to Guatemala to Puerto Rico to Ecuador in rapid succession

Bosch's own explanation: Hours after the incident, she posted on Instagram:

"Un episodio momentáneo derivado del agotamiento." (A momentary episode caused by exhaustion.)

She confirmed she was well and continued with her scheduled agenda, including a charity gala dinner on Monday and a press conference today (Tuesday).

Who Is Fátima Bosch?

Bosch, 25, is from Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. She was crowned Miss Universe on November 21, 2025, in Thailand — the fourth Mexican woman to win the title. She holds a degree in Fashion and Apparel Design from Universidad Iberoamericana with additional studies at NABA in Milan. She has dedicated over nine years to volunteering with children facing cancer and has spoken publicly about living with dyslexia and ADHD.

She is the second reigning Miss Universe to visit Ecuador within one year — Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig visited in July 2025.

The Festival

The Fiesta de la Fruta y de las Flores is celebrating its 75th Diamond Anniversary this year (February 13–17). The festival was created as a community recovery celebration after the devastating August 5, 1949 earthquake that killed over 5,000 people and destroyed much of Ambato and surrounding towns. It was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.

The parade featured 19–20 allegorical floats decorated with natural flowers, fruits, and dried seeds, organized into four thematic blocks. President Daniel Noboa and First Lady Lavinia Valbonesi attended as guests of honor.

Other notable attendees included Mara Topic (Miss Ecuador 2024), who served as Bosch's hostess during her Ecuador visit, and several former Ambato queens.

The Real Expat Takeaway: Altitude Is No Joke

Bosch's episode — whether caused by altitude, exhaustion, or both — is a vivid reminder that Ecuador's elevation affects everyone, including young, fit, well-supported visitors.

Here are the numbers:

| City | Altitude | Feet | |------|----------|------| | Quito | ~2,850 m | ~9,350 ft | | Riobamba | ~2,758 m | ~9,050 ft | | Ambato | ~2,577 m | ~8,465 ft | | Cuenca | ~2,550 m | ~8,400 ft |

What This Means for Expats

• When visitors come from sea level: Give them at least 48–72 hours to acclimatize before strenuous activity. Don't plan hikes, long walks, or full-day tours for their first day
• Symptoms to watch: Headache, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, and trouble sleeping are all classic signs of soroche. They typically resolve within 2–3 days
• Prevention: Stay hydrated, eat carbohydrate-rich foods, avoid alcohol for the first day or two, and consider acetazolamide (available at pharmacies — consult a doctor first) if you're particularly susceptible
• Local remedy: Mate de coca (coca leaf tea) is widely used in Ecuador's highlands to combat altitude symptoms. It's legal, common, and available at most markets and cafes
• Cuenca residents hosting guests: Your visitors from Florida, Texas, or California are going from sea level to 8,400 feet. Bosch came from 7,350 feet and still had trouble. Take acclimatization seriously
• Long-term residents: Even if you've lived at altitude for years, returning after extended sea-level travel (a beach trip to Salinas, a flight home to the U.S.) can trigger mild symptoms when you come back to the highlands

Sources: Infobae, Expreso, El Universo, El Imparcial