Crystal Dike
Two judges have resigned from the Miss Universe pageant just days before the competition, with one alleging that the selection process for finalists was rigged.
Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch announced his resignation from the eight-member jury on Instagram on Tuesday, claiming that an “impromptu jury” had pre-selected finalists ahead of the pageant, which is scheduled for Friday in Thailand. Harfouch said he discovered the arrangement on social media and alleged that the unofficial jury comprised individuals with potential conflicts of interest due to personal relationships with some contestants.
Hours later, French football manager Claude Makélélé also pulled out of the competition, citing “unforeseen personal reasons” in his Instagram post.
The resignations follow a controversy earlier this month when several contestants walked out of a pre-pageant event after the Thailand director, Nawat Itsaragrisil, berated Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, for not promoting the pageant on social media. Videos of the incident went viral, prompting a formal intervention by the Miss Universe Organisation, which sent international executives to oversee the event.
Responding to Harfouch’s allegations, the Miss Universe Organisation said no external group had been authorised to select finalists. The organisation suggested Harfouch may have confused the selection process with the Beyond the Crown programme, a social impact initiative operating independently from the competition.
Makélélé described his resignation as a “difficult decision,” but said he continued to hold Miss Universe in high regard for its values of empowerment, diversity, and excellence.