Miss Universe 2025 faces the risk of being canceled in Thailand
Tensions escalated when police appeared at the venue after the host accused the global organizing committee of being involved in a sponsor suspected of gambling.
The Miss Universe 2025 pageant is facing an unprecedentedly complicated situation as police have arrived at the venue in Thailand. The incident occurred amid a fierce conflict between the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and the host organization Miss Universe Thailand (MUT), headed by Mr. Nawat Itsaragrisil, raising concerns that the pageant could be suspended or canceled.
The source of controversy from online voting activities
The conflict began when MUT launched an online voting campaign called “Dinner & Talkshow Special”. This activity called on the audience to interact with the contestants’ pictures to choose the top 10 people who would have the opportunity to join Mr. Nawat for a private dinner.
However, on the morning of November 3, MUO issued an official announcement, affirming that this was an illegal activity, not within the framework of the competition and never licensed. This statement is seen as a tough move aimed at the host unit.
Not long after, MUT responded. Mr. Nawat and his team stated that the voting campaign was part of the official promotional package and was under the full authority of the host organization. MUT affirmed that they were authorized to manage promotional activities in Thailand and were considering legal aspects to sue MUO if necessary.
"MUO's announcement has caused confusion to the public, although our actions are completely within our authority. We will forward this matter to the legal department," said an MUT representative.
Escalating tensions and police involvement
The conflict continued to escalate when Mr. Raul Rocha, owner of the Miss Universe pageant, posted a story on social media that was said to mock the stock situation of Miss Grand International, the company run by Mr. Nawat.
The incident peaked on the afternoon of November 3, when local media reported that Mr. Nawat had reported to the police that the Miss Universe organizing committee had allowed a company suspected of being involved in gambling to become a sponsor. Immediately after, the police force appeared at the hotel where the contest activities took place, causing the atmosphere to become extremely tense.
The uncertain future of the competition
The incident has attracted a lot of attention from the international media and beauty fan community. Many people expressed concern that the legal and reputational disputes between the two sides could seriously affect Miss Universe 2025.
Amidst the tension, the contestants continued to participate in scheduled activities. Vietnam's representative at this year's contest is Miss Nguyen Huong Giang.
