The Miss Universe pageant, long marketed as a global celebration of beauty, empowerment, and cultural diversity, is now facing one of the most damaging scandals in its history.
Just days before the grand finale of the 74th Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand, two judges have abruptly resigned - and one of them has openly accused the organisation of manipulating the results.
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Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch, a member of the official eight-person judging panel, announced his resignation on Instagram, alleging that an “impromptu jury” had secretly pre-selected 30 finalists from the 136 participating countries. According to Harfouch, this shadow panel was formed without the knowledge or involvement of the actual official judges, including himself. He claims the group included individuals with “significant potential conflicts of interest” due to personal connections with certain contestants, raising serious concerns about fairness and integrity.
Harfouch revealed he learned about the alleged parallel jury only through social media - a detail that reveals the extent of confusion and chaos within the pageant. While he did not specify how this unofficial committee could override the decisions of the authorised jury, his accusations alone have cast a heavy cloud over the competition.
Hours after Harfouch’s resignation went public, French football manager Claude Makelelel also stepped down from the judging panel. Makelelel cited “unforeseen personal reasons”, calling it a “difficult decision” and emphasising his respect for Miss Universe as a platform for empowerment, diversity, and excellence. His sudden departure, however, inevitably adds to the perception of internal instability.
The Miss Universe Organisation swiftly refuted Harfouch’s claims. In a statement, it stressed that “no external group has been authorised to evaluate delegates or select finalists”, suggesting instead that Harfouch may have misunderstood the Beyond the Crown initiative: a social impact programme that runs independently from the main pageant and has its own selection committee. The organisation said his allegations had “mischaracterised” the programme’s purpose and structure.
Yet the resignations come at an already fragile moment. Just two weeks earlier, the pageant was rocked by another controversy when Miss Mexico 2025, Fatima Bosch, and several contestants walked out of a pre-pageant event in protest. The uproar followed criticism from Thailand’s national director, Nawat Itsaragrisil, who publicly scolded Bosch for not posting promotional content of Thailand on social media. Videos of the confrontation quickly went viral, showing contestants shouting back before leaving the venue. While Nawat later opologised and insisted his remarks were misunderstood, the Miss Universe Organisation issued a rare public rebuke and dispatched international executives to take over operations in Thailand.
The escalating string of issues - from alleged jury manipulation to contestant walkouts - threatens to overshadow the pageant’s core mission and damage its global reputation. As millions prepare to tune in for the crown ceremony, the Miss Universe brand is now battling a very different competition: the competition to restore trust.
Whether the organisation can recover from this storm, or whether this year’s pageant will be remembered less for its winner than its controversies, remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the glitter of Miss Universe 2025 has been dimmed by shadows behind the front stage.
By: Kpost
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