Miss Universe Judge Resigns Amid Allegations of Rigged Finalist Selection

Bangkok, Thailand: Just days ahead of the annual Miss Universe pageant, two high-profile judges have resigned, sending shockwaves through the global beauty community. Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch and French football manager Claude Makélélé announced their departures amid allegations of unfair practices in finalist selection.

Harfouch, who shared his resignation on Instagram, claimed that an “impromptu jury” had pre-selected the 30 finalists from 136 contestants without consulting the official eight-member jury. He expressed concerns over potential conflicts of interest, noting that some members of this unofficial panel had personal ties to contestants.

Hours later, Makélélé cited “unforeseen personal reasons” for his resignation, emphasizing that it was a difficult decision but reaffirming his respect for the Miss Universe platform.

These resignations follow recent controversy at a pre-pageant event, when several contestants walked out after Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly berated Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, for not posting promotional content on her social media. The viral incident prompted widespread criticism and a stern rebuke from the Miss Universe Organisation.

In response to Harfouch’s claims, the Miss Universe Organisation clarified that no external jury has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists. Officials suggested that Harfouch may have misunderstood the Beyond the Crown programme, a separate social impact initiative with its own selection committee, unrelated to the competition’s judging process.

The developments have intensified scrutiny over transparency in the pageant, raising concerns about fairness and credibility just days before the much-anticipated finale in Thailand. Contestants, fans, and international media are now closely watching how the organisation manages the final stages of the competition to ensure integrity and impartiality.

As the pageant approaches, organisers face mounting pressure to uphold Miss Universe’s values of empowerment, diversity, and excellence while addressing allegations of favoritism and conflicts of interest. The world will be watching whether the competition can maintain its credibility amid these unprecedented controversies.