"Rigged" Miss Universe Pageant: Two Judges Resign Amidst Growing Controversy

Rising tensions have engulfed the Miss Universe contest after two jury members stepped down just days before the event. One of them publicly alleged that the selection process had been manipulated, triggering a wave of scrutiny around the upcoming pageant in Thailand.

Claims of a Preselected Panel Trigger Outrage

Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch, part of the eight member official jury, revealed on Instagram that he would no longer participate. He said he learned through social media that an unofficial group had already chosen 30 finalists before the formal judging began. According to his statement, this group functioned as an "impromptu jury" that operated without the involvement of any genuine judges.

"An impromptu jury has been formed to select 30 finalists from among the 136 participating countries, without the presence of any of the real [eight] members of the jury, including me," he wrote. He further claimed that this unofficial team consisted of people who had "a significant potential conflict of interest due to some personal relationships with some of the Miss Universe contestants." Harfouch did not explain how the impromptu jury would influence or override the official decisions.

Organisation Rejects Allegations

The Miss Universe Organisation quickly issued a response, firmly stating that "no external group has been authorised to evaluate delegates or select finalists." It said Harfouch was likely referring to the Beyond the Crown initiative, introduced recently as a separate social impact programme that runs independently from the competition. The organisation clarified that he had "mischaracterised" the purpose of the programme and its selection committee.

Former football manager Claude Makélélé also announced his exit hours after Harfouch. He cited "unforeseen personal reasons" and described stepping down as a "difficult decision." In his Instagram post, he added that he holds the pageant in high esteem and said, "The platform represents empowerment, diversity, and excellence, values I have always championed throughout my career."

Earlier Incident Added to the Rising Tensions

This turmoil follows an earlier controversy that erupted two weeks ago. Several contestants walked out of a pre-event gathering after Thailand's pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly reprimanded Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, for not posting promotional content online. Footage that circulated widely showed multiple contestants confronting him and leaving the venue.

Nawat later said his remarks had been misinterpreted. Even so, the situation drew a sharp response from the Miss Universe Organisation, which has now dispatched international executives to take operational control of the competition.