BANGKOK — The upcoming Miss Universe competition has been thrown into turmoil with the resignations of two judges just days before the event. The judges, Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch and Makélélé, cited concerns over the fairness and transparency of the selection process. The 72nd Miss Universe pageant is scheduled to take place this Friday in Bangkok, Thailand, and the controversy raises questions about the integrity of the competition.
Harfouch publicly accused the Miss Universe Organization of allowing an unofficial panel to pre-select finalists, potentially undermining the role of the official judging panel. Makélélé, while offering a more measured response, also resigned, expressing difficulty continuing in light of the allegations. The organization has vehemently denied the claims of a rigged selection process.
Concerns Over Miss Universe Judging Process Emerge
The core of the dispute centers on Harfouch’s assertion that a separate, “impromptu jury” was formed to identify the top 30 contestants from a field of 136 national representatives. He alleges this panel included individuals with potential conflicts of interest due to pre-existing relationships with some of the contestants. This claim, made via Instagram, has sparked widespread discussion and scrutiny within the beauty pageant community.
The Organization’s Response
The Miss Universe Organization swiftly responded to Harfouch’s allegations, stating that no unauthorized group has been given the authority to evaluate delegates or determine finalists. They suggested Harfouch may have confused the official judging process with the “Beyond the Crown” program. This initiative, according to the organization, is a separate social impact project with its own selection committee.
The organization released a statement on Monday detailing the Beyond the Crown selection committee, and on Tuesday clarified that Harfouch’s claims had “mischaracterised” the program’s function. It remains unclear how the Beyond the Crown program operates in relation to the main competition, and whether it influences the final selection of contestants.
Makélélé’s resignation statement, also posted on Instagram, focused on his respect for the Miss Universe platform and its values of empowerment, diversity, and excellence. He described the decision to step down as “difficult” but necessary given the unfolding circumstances. His departure, while less accusatory than Harfouch’s, adds further weight to the concerns surrounding the competition.
This controversy follows earlier backlash directed at Nawat Itsaragrisil, the national director of Miss Universe Thailand. Two weeks prior, videos circulated showing Itsaragrisil publicly reprimanding Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, for insufficient social media promotion.
The incident prompted several contestants to walk out of a pre-pageant event, with some voicing their disapproval of Itsaragrisil’s behavior. While Itsaragrisil later claimed his words were misinterpreted, the Miss Universe Organization issued a rebuke and dispatched a team of international executives to oversee the remainder of the competition in Thailand. This intervention suggests a broader concern within the organization regarding the handling of the Thai franchise.
The timing of these events is particularly sensitive, as the Miss Universe competition strives to maintain a reputation for fairness and inclusivity. The allegations of a pre-selected finalist group and the previous incident with the Thai director threaten to damage that image. The situation also highlights the increasing pressure on contestants to actively engage on social media, a factor that appears to have contributed to the initial dispute.
The future of the beauty pageant remains uncertain as the organization attempts to address the concerns raised by the resigning judges and restore confidence in the selection process. The organization has not announced any plans to replace the judges at this late stage. The competition is still scheduled to proceed on Friday, and observers will be closely watching to see if the controversy impacts the event’s execution or the final outcome. The focus will be on ensuring transparency and upholding the values of the Miss Universe organization throughout the remainder of the competition, and the handling of this situation will likely influence the perception of future international pageants.
