A former Miss Universe judge has accused the pageant of being “rigged” after abruptly withdrawing three days before the finale, held on Friday, Nov. 21, in Bangkok.
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Composer Omar Harfouch announced his resignation on Nov. 18 via Instagram, expressing “profound confusion and concern” over what he described as an “impromptu jury” allegedly formed to select 30 finalists from the 136 participating countries. Harfouch claimed none of the eight official judges were present during the selection, and that the process was kept secret.
In a follow-up post, Harfouch alleged conflicts of interest among members of the unofficial judging panel, claiming some had personal connections with contestants and controlled the results. He said he raised objections with Miss Universe officials, who he claimed responded by posting committee members’ names online without clarifying their roles.
The Miss Universe Organization, however, denied the allegations, stating in an Instagram post that “no impromptu jury has been created” and that all evaluations follow “established, transparent, and supervised protocols.”
Speaking to The Times, Harfouch said, “While we eight confirmed judges were selected to represent fairness, cultural diversity and artistic vision, this parallel group operated in secrecy and made decisive choices, including the pre-selection of 30 contestants, before we had even arrived.” He added, “Many of these women come from humble backgrounds. When the process is manipulated behind closed doors, it’s not just unfair, it’s harmful. That’s not empowerment it’s betrayal.”
Harfouch claimed he had a “disrespectful conversation” with Miss Universe president Raul Rocha about the alleged lack of transparency, after which he resigned, proposing a restart of the selection process with all official judges present a suggestion he said was refused.
Following Harfouch’s exit, French soccer manager Claude Makélélé also resigned as a judge, citing “unforeseen personal reasons.” Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie reportedly withdrew as well.
The pageant concluded with Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch being crowned Miss Universe 2025. The event was marked by earlier controversy after a livestream showed pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil reprimanding Bosch over an alleged refusal to participate in a social media photo shoot, prompting several contestants to leave in protest.
A Miss Universe spokesperson did not immediately respond allegations.
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