"There's been a surprise leadership change, a Miss Universe director yelling at a contestant on camera, racist remarks from a former winner - and that was just in the past week. All the bad press has brought renewed international attention to a brand that came under fire just last year after former CEO Anne Jakrajutatip appeared to laugh at contestants' photos on Instagram Live and praised one titleholder's blond hair and blue eyes as "the best here.""
"Miss Chile apologized after posting a TikTok that showed her pretending to snort powder. Jakrajutatip never addressed the criticism. Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt summed up the controversy-fatigue that many fans have been feeling, writing in an Instagram statement on November 7: "The drama in the pageant world has been weighing heavy on the hearts of so many." Only time will tell if more drama will follow before the November 21 final."
Miss Universe 2025 has been hit by a cascade of scandals in the lead-up to the November 21 final. Contestants walked out after a director appeared to call Miss Mexico a "dumbhead." Miss Chile apologized for a TikTok showing her pretending to snort powder. A surprise leadership change and on-camera yelling have intensified scrutiny. Racist remarks from a former winner and past incidents involving the former CEO laughing at contestants' photos and praising blond hair and blue eyes added to the controversy. Public figures and titleholders have voiced frustration and fatigue as the pageant confronts renewed international criticism.
Read at Business Insider
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