The Miss Universe 2025 pageant has been thrown into unprecedented turmoil just hours before the grand finale in Bangkok. What began as routine pre-event proceedings quickly spiralled into a public crisis after three judges resigned, contestants staged a walkout, and allegations of unfair selection practices surfaced online
The controversy gained momentum when well-known musician and jury member Omar Harfouch accused the Miss Universe Organization of selecting the Top 30 contestants unofficially, even before the official judges were allowed to vote. In a detailed social media post dated November 17, Omar claimed that individuals who were not part of the jury panel took part in the voting process. He further alleged that some contestants were chosen due to personal relationships with organizers, calling the process “misleading” and “emotionally damaging.” Omar also threatened to pursue legal action against the organization.
A day later, former French footballer Claude Makélélé announced his departure from the judging panel, citing personal reasons. The situation escalated further when Princess Camilla de Bourbon, the President of the Miss Universe Selection Committee, also resigned, becoming the third judge to quit just before the finals.
With the panel reduced drastically, the organization quickly added former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova (2005) to help stabilize the judging team. Despite the reshuffle, the crisis deepened as a dispute involving Miss Universe CEO Nawat Itsaragrisil and contestant Fatima erupted during rehearsals.
According to multiple eyewitness accounts, Nawat publicly accused Fatima of failing to share promotional content. When she objected, he allegedly threatened to call security and warned that anyone supporting her risked disqualification. The confrontation led Fatima and several other contestants to walk out, sparking a global social media movement under the hashtag #JusticeForFatima. Under pressure, Nawat later issued a public apology.
As the pageant prepares for its finale on November 21, the swirling allegations of bias, internal conflicts, and procedural impropriety have overshadowed the competition itself. Millions of viewers now await not only the crowning of Miss Universe 2025 but also answers from the organization regarding transparency and fairness.