Post by : Saif Rahman

The Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Bangkok, Thailand is enveloped in controversy just days before its international finals on November 21. Adding to existing turmoil, a third judge has resigned, raising alarms over the competition's fairness and integrity. Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, who chaired the Miss Universe selection committee, has apparently stepped down from her role mere days before the event. This follows the earlier resignations of judge Omar Harfouch and former soccer star Claude Makélélé.

Harfouch has expressed serious concerns regarding the judging process, alleging that an “impromptu jury” was responsible for pre-selecting the top 30 contestants without guidance from the original panel of eight judges. He claimed this special jury had connections to specific contestants, hence affecting the competition's fairness. Harfouch emphasized that he could not “play with the destiny of young girls” and felt insulted after airing his grievances to Miss Universe CEO Raul Rocha. Following this, Claude Makélélé left too, citing “unforeseen personal reasons.”

The departure of Princess Camilla has intensified the unrest, as having three judges resign in such quick succession is unprecedented, leaving fans and followers bewildered. Social media is rife with discussions, with many questioning the competition's credibility.

In a separate incident, Miss Universe Jamaica, Dr. Gabrielle Henry, experienced a worrying fall during the preliminary competition on November 19. Dressed in an orange evening gown and high heels, she stumbled off the stage and was rushed to Paolo Rangsit Hospital for treatment. Fortunately, her injuries are confirmed to be non-life-threatening, but her participation in the final event remains uncertain.

The competition had already been tense due to a dispute involving Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, and pageant organizer Nawat Itsaragrisil. During a livestreamed event, Nawat allegedly referred to her as “dumb” for missing a photoshoot, prompting several contestants to protest by walking out, further escalating concerns about the event's management and treatment of participants.

Despite these unfolding events, the Miss Universe Organisation maintains that the finals on November 21 will occur as scheduled. Officials are assuring that the competition will carry on, and the remaining judges will fulfill their roles. However, these recent occurrences have cast a shadow over what is typically a dazzling global spectacle, adding uncertainty to the event's reputation.

As the situation develops, fans worldwide are closely monitoring how the pageant navigates these controversies and if the remaining contestants can concentrate on their performances amidst the chaos. The next few days will be crucial for organisers as they strive to uphold trust and deliver an event that meets expectations.

#Lifestyle