When many thought the drama in this year’s Miss Universe pageant has already subsided, another episode unfolded, this time involving members of the media.
Journalists and online content creators were reportedly prevented from covering an official pageant activity on Sunday, Nov. 9, in Phuket, Thailand, where the delegates have flown to after staying for about a week in Bangkok.
Several accounts from Filipino platforms whose representatives are covering in Thailand disclosed that they were barred from entering the venue of the day’s event, and only members of Thai media were allowed inside.
Filipinos and other nationalities who secured accreditation to cover the 74th Miss International pageant in Thailand were among those who were prevented from covering, according to these accounts.
Also among those who were not allowed to follow the delegates for the day’s event were representatives from Telemundo, a Spanish-language media company based in the United States, and is an official broadcast partner of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant.
This is not the first time that the media got involved in this drama-filled edition of Miss Universe. Even before the candidates were officially welcomed in Bangkok on Nov. 2, social media pageant page Critical Beauty reported that content creators and vloggers were not allowed to cover until Nov. 17.
But Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of the Miss Grand International Public Co. Ltd. that handles Thailand’s hosting of this year’s international pageant, issued his own clarification into the matter and announced a media coordinator different from the one designated by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO).
It has only been a week since the Miss Universe pageant season started, but several incidents have already taken the spotlight away from the contestants because of the feud between Nawat and MUO Pres. Raul Roca.
On Nov.2, the MUO said an online voting initiative promoted by Nawat and a corresponding special dinner with the leading candidates were not authorized. He then mentioned in Thai in a live video that the organization does not know how to run a pageant.
The next day, Nawat brought in Thai Police to confiscate materials bearing the name and logo of a Philippine online gaming company, citing Thai laws that ban casinos. MUO brought in the company as the pageant’s ‘official journey partner.’
On Nov. 4, Nawat was seen in a live video in a heated exchange with Mexico’s Fatima Bosch, prompting her to walk out. Several other delegates, as well as reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig, followed her out of the hall.
The following day the Miss Universe pageant posted a video of Rocha delivering a speech, and admonishing Nawat for his behavior towards Bosch. He also said MUO was considering legal action against Nawat, and is limiting the Thai personality’s involvement in the pageant’s activities.
Nawat broke down before cameras on Nov. 5, and appeared to be crying as he said he did not intend to cause harm on anyone. He also appeared on stage anew, while the delegates were still there, to clear his name before a global audience.
The 74th Miss Universe pageant is set to conclude on Nov. 21 via a final competition and coronation show at the Impact Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi, northwest of Bangkok. More than 120 delegates are competing to succeed Theilvig, inlcuding the Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo. /edv