The global spotlight on Miss Universe 2025 has turned sharply negative as the prestigious pageant continues to spiral into controversy just hours before its grand finale. The event, scheduled to take place on 21 November in Bangkok, Thailand, is now struggling with credibility issues following the abrupt resignation of multiple judges and serious allegations of favoritism, unethical selection practices, and backstage misconduct.
Italian Princess Camilla de Bourbon Resigns as Head of Selection Committee
In a dramatic development, Princess Camilla de Bourbon of Italy, who served as the head of the Miss Universe Selection Committee, resigned from the judging panel only a day before the finale. Her sudden exit has sent shockwaves across the pageant world.
She became the third judge to resign from an original panel of eight. Before her, renowned Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch and former French football star Claude Makélélé had already stepped down from their roles.
With three major personalities walking out, the Miss Universe Organization was forced to restructure the panel. Former Miss Universe 2005 and Canadian beauty queen Natalie Glebova was added as a replacement, bringing the current number of judges to six.
Claims of Pre-Selected Top 30 Contestants Trigger the Crisis
The controversy intensified when musician Omar Harfouch publicly accused the organizers of predetermining the Top 30 contestants even before the official judging panel was formed.
According to Harfouch, the organizers allegedly favored contestants with personal connections to certain officials involved in the event. He stated that the voting process to select the Top 30 was conducted by individuals who were not official members of the jury, raising serious doubts about transparency and integrity.
Harfouch claimed that he was “misled” into accepting a flawed assessment process and said the ordeal caused him emotional distress and harmed his professional reputation.
In a strongly worded statement on 17 November, he even threatened legal action against the Miss Universe 2025 organizers for unethical practices.
Claude Makélélé Also Exits, Cites Personal Reasons
Following Harfouch’s allegations, former football legend Claude Makélélé announced his exit on 18 November through an Instagram post.
He wrote,
“Unfortunately, I will not be participating in Miss Universe 2025. Thank you for your understanding and support.”
Although Makélélé cited personal reasons, pageant insiders suspect his exit may be linked to the brewing tensions and internal chaos.
Miss Mexico Incident Sparks Further Outrage
The turmoil escalated when Miss Mexico, Fatima, reportedly faced verbal humiliation during an internal meeting. According to accounts shared by multiple contestants, Fatima was called “stupid” by a senior pageant coordinator named Navate, triggering immediate backlash.
When Fatima objected to the insulting remark and clarified that she had not shared unauthorized promotional material, Navate allegedly threatened to call security and disqualify anyone who supported her.
The incident prompted several contestants to walk out of the hall in protest.
Following the controversy, the hashtag #JusticeForFatima began trending on social media worldwide, with fans and pageant followers demanding accountability.
Under pressure, Navate later released a video apology saying:
“If anyone was hurt by my words, I sincerely apologize.”
Miss Jamaica Injured After Falling Off Stage
The chaos surrounding Miss Universe 2025 didn’t stop at administrative conflict. During the preliminary round on 19 November, Miss Jamaica, Dr. Gabrielle Henry, slipped during her ramp walk and fell off the stage.
She was immediately rushed to the hospital, where doctors confirmed that although she suffered injuries, her condition was not life-threatening. The accident added to the already tense atmosphere and raised safety concerns about stage design and event management.
India’s Manika Vishwakarma Represents the Country on the Global Stage
Amid the surrounding controversies, India’s contestant Manika Vishwakarma continues to draw attention for her grace and determination.
The 22-year-old beauty queen, originally from Rajasthan and now living in Delhi, is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics at Mata Sundri College for Women, University of Delhi.
Manika first won the Miss Universe Rajasthan 2024 crown and later defeated 48 national finalists to win Miss Universe India 2025, held in Jaipur on 18 August 2025.
India has previously won the Miss Universe crown three times:
- Sushmita Sen (1994)
- Lara Dutta (2000)
- Harnaaz Sandhu (2021)
Manika aims to bring India its fourth Miss Universe title despite the turbulent environment surrounding the competition.
What Makes Miss Universe One of the World’s Most Prestigious Competitions?
Founded in 1952, the Miss Universe pageant remains one of the most globally recognized beauty competitions. Organized annually by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), the event attracts 80 to 90 contestants from around the world.
Each country sends its national titleholder to compete on an international platform, where contestants undergo multiple evaluations including:
1. Catwalk / Swimsuit Round
Assesses confidence, posture, stage presence, and fitness.
2. National Costume Round
Highlights the cultural heritage and creativity of each participant’s homeland.
3. Evening Gown Round
Evaluates elegance, charisma, and personal style.
4. Personal Interview
Focuses on personality, intelligence, communication skills, and advocacy goals.
5. Final Question-and-Answer Round
Often addresses global issues such as women’s rights, leadership, education, world peace, mental health, climate change, and social justice.
These rounds are designed to assess not only the contestant’s beauty but also her vision, values, leadership qualities, and ability to inspire change.
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Winner’s Responsibilities: More Than a Crown
The winner of Miss Universe 2025 will receive a one-year international contract that includes:
Global charity tours
Engaging in humanitarian projects across multiple countries.
Advocacy for women’s rights
Supporting campaigns related to equality, empowerment, and safety.
Representation of global brands
Acting as a brand ambassador for top fashion, lifestyle, and beauty labels.
Educational and health campaigns
Promoting awareness on issues such as education access, mental health, and public health.
The crown symbolizes not just beauty, but ambassadorship, social responsibility, and global influence.
Also read: New York Film Festival Called Off Amid Claims of Pressure on Filmmakers From Chinese Authorities
A Pageant Overshadowed by Scandal-Can Miss Universe 2025 Recover Its Reputation?
As the grand finale approaches, the Miss Universe 2025 event is fighting to regain its credibility. Multiple resignations, allegations of favoritism, accusations of misconduct, and participant protests have all contributed to unprecedented controversy.
Fan reactions are divided. Some believe these issues expose long-standing problems within global beauty pageants, while others think the situation has been exaggerated or politicized.
Nonetheless, the spotlight now rests on how the Miss Universe Organization will handle the crisis, ensure transparency during the finale, and restore public trust.
All eyes are on Bangkok, where the future of the Miss Universe brand may very well be shaped by the outcome of this troubled edition.
