Judges Depart Miss Universe Amid Claims of Manipulated Selection Process

Post by : Raina Nasser

Bangkok, Thailand:Just prior to the highly-anticipated Miss Universe pageant, the beauty world is abuzz with shock as two prominent judges have stepped down. Lebanese-French artist Omar Harfouch and French football figure Claude Makélélé declared their resignations, alleging flawed practices in the selection of finalists.

Harfouch revealed on Instagram that a so-called “impromptu jury” had been established to choose 30 finalists from 136 participants, bypassing the official eight-member judging panel. He raised concerns about possible conflicts of interest, pointing out that some unofficial panel members are closely linked to certain contestants.

Shortly after, Makélélé announced he was leaving for “unforeseen personal reasons,” stressing the difficulty in making such a decision, while also expressing his continued respect for the Miss Universe platform.

The resignations come amidst a recent pre-pageant scandal, where several contestants walked out in protest after Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil criticized Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, for her lack of social media promotion. This incident ignited significant backlash and drew stern remarks from the Miss Universe Organisation.

In light of Harfouch’s statements, the Miss Universe Organisation responded by asserting that no outside jury had been permitted to assess contestants or choose finalists. They suggested that Harfouch may have misunderstood the Beyond the Crown initiative, which is an independent social impact program unrelated to the competitive judging process.

These events have heightened the scrutiny surrounding the pageant’s transparency, raising serious questions about its fairness and credibility in the lead-up to the long-awaited finale in Thailand. Contestants, fans, and global media are intently observing how the organization navigates the concluding phases of the event to ensure integrity.

As the competition draws near, organizers are under increasing pressure to embody the values of empowerment, diversity, and excellence associated with Miss Universe while tackling allegations of bias and conflicts of interest. All eyes will be on whether the event can uphold its reputation amidst these unprecedented claims.