Post by : Rameen Ariff

Bangkok, Thailand: In a dramatic turn of events just before the Miss Universe pageant, two prominent judges have stepped down, startling the global beauty industry. Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch and French football manager Claude Makélélé made their exits known amid claims of biased practices in the selection of pageant finalists.

Harfouch announced his resignation on Instagram, alleging that an “impromptu jury” selected 30 finalists out of 136 contestants without engaging the official eight-member panel. He raised concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest, noting that some participants in this unofficial jury had personal connections with the contestants.

Makélélé, shortly after, cited “unforeseen personal reasons” for his departure, noting it was a tough choice but reaffirming his regard for the Miss Universe platform.

These resignations follow a pre-pageant event where several contestants walked out after Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil reprimanded Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, for failing to promote the event on social media. This incident gained traction and criticism, leading to a public acknowledgment from the Miss Universe Organisation.

Reacting to Harfouch’s accusations, the Miss Universe Organisation confirmed that no external jury has been permitted to judge or select finalists, suggesting that Harfouch may have confused the Beyond the Crown programme, which operates separately from the official competition judging process.

These events have heightened calls for transparency in the pageant, raising questions about fairness and integrity as the grand finale in Thailand approaches. Contestants, fans, and global media are now eagerly observing how the organization navigates the concluding stages to ensure impartiality and fairness.

With the pageant looming, organizers are under increasing pressure to uphold Miss Universe’s principles of empowerment, diversity, and excellence while addressing claims of bias. The world waits to see if the competition can sustain its integrity amid these significant challenges.

#Entertainment News #Global