What’s the drama at this year’s Miss Universe? - What in the World podcast, BBC World Service

Key Concepts

• Miss Universe Pageant: An international beauty contest.
• Raúl Rocha Cantú: Mexican businessman, President of the Miss Universe Organization, owns 50% stake.
• Nawat Itsaragrisil: Thai entrepreneur, owner of Miss Universe Thailand franchise, host of the 2024 pageant in Thailand.
• Traditional Pageant Model: Focus on TV rights, sponsorships, country franchises, licensing, and merchandising. Beauty queens as humanitarian ambassadors.
• Social Media Oriented Model: Emphasis on TikTok, live shopping, and queens as salespeople.
• Sashing Ceremony: An event where contestants officially receive their sashes.
• Beauty Exodus: Contestants walking out in solidarity.
• Geopolitical Powerhouse: The pageant's influence beyond beauty, its global reach, and representation of nations.
• Live Shopping: Real-time selling of products on platforms like TikTok, popular in China and Southeast Asia.

Summary of Miss Universe Pageant Controversies

This report details the significant controversies surrounding the Miss Universe pageant, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 final in Thailand. The discussion highlights a clash of visions between key figures in the organization and explores the evolving landscape of beauty pageants in the digital age.

1. Declining Traditional Viewership vs. Social Media Engagement

While traditional TV viewership for Miss Universe has declined in Western countries (e.g., US viewership dropped from 7.7 million in 2014 to 2.1 million last year), the pageant boasts a massive social media presence. Last year, it recorded a record 1.1 billion social media engagements. The pageant remains highly popular in Latin America (especially Mexico) and Southeast Asia (Thailand and the Philippines). This mixed picture creates tensions for the organization.

2. The Clash of Visions: Raúl Rocha Cantú vs. Nawat Itsaragrisil

The core of the current controversies lies in the differing philosophies of two influential businessmen:

• Raúl Rocha Cantú:

  • Background: Mexican businessman, President of the Miss Universe Organization, acquired a 50% stake for $16 million in early 2023.
  • Vision: Favors the traditional pageant model prevalent in Latin America. This model relies on selling TV rights, securing broadcast and event sponsorships, and franchising the pageant to national partners. Revenue is also generated through licensing and merchandising.
  • Role of Queens: Views beauty queens as ambassadors who advocate for humanitarian causes. The organization manages the financial aspects.

• Nawat Itsaragrisil:

  • Background: Thai entrepreneur, invested at least $2 million to secure the Miss Universe Thailand franchise for over two decades. He is the host of the 2024 pageant in Thailand.
  • Vision: Embraces a social media-oriented approach, moving from tradition to platforms like TikTok. He has over one million TikTok followers and actively promotes live shopping, a trend that is booming in China and gaining traction in Southeast Asia.
  • Role of Queens: Sees queens not just as ambassadors but also as salespeople, pressuring them to promote products.

This divergence in vision has led to significant infighting between the two men.

3. The Sashing Ceremony Incident and "Beauty Exodus"

A pivotal moment occurred during the sashing ceremony, a traditional event where contestants receive their official sashes. Nawat Itsaragrisil, who was live-streaming the event, publicly questioned Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, about her promotional efforts for the pageant and its sponsors.

• The Confrontation: Nawat accused Miss Mexico of disrespecting Thailand by not posting enough. When asked to explain herself, Miss Mexico expressed her unwillingness to be spoken down to. Nawat then shouted over her, telling her to stop talking. There is a dispute over whether he called her a "dummy" or "damaged."
• Miss Mexico's Response: Miss Mexico stated, "I have a voice," and accused Nawat of not respecting her as a woman.
• Escalation: Nawat then demanded a "yes or no" answer on whether she could promote Thailand, cut her off, and had security escort her out of the hotel.
• Aftermath: Miss Mexico was in tears and claimed she was told to "shut up." In solidarity, several other contestants, including the reigning Miss Universe from Denmark, walked out of the ceremony in what was termed a "beauty exodus." The reigning Miss Universe stated, "This is about women's rights, to quote, 'Trash another girl.' It's beyond disrespectful and it's nothing I've ever done. That's why I'm taking my coat and I'm going."

4. Reactions and Apologies

• Raúl Rocha Cantú's Statement: He released a video statement on Instagram, emphasizing the Miss Universe Organization's commitment to respecting women and their dignity. He vowed not to allow these values to be violated and promised to limit Nawat's participation, stating the organization would not tolerate disrespect or humiliation.
• Nawat Itsaragrisil's Apology: Nawat posted teary videos on social media. In one, he stated, "I'm a human, I didn't want to do anything like that." In another, standing with some contestants (excluding Miss Mexico), he apologized, saying, "I had not intended to harm anyone because I respect all of you. I am so sorry it happened. First, I have to apologise to the delegates. If anyone was affected and not comfortable with what happened. I am so sorry."

5. The Pageant's Enduring Influence and Future

Despite the controversies, the report suggests that Miss Universe remains influential due to its global reach.

• Global Appeal: Few programs are broadcast simultaneously worldwide, allowing people across borders to engage in the same conversation. This appeals to those seeking global connection and to sponsors.
• National Representation: Nations, both large and small, see themselves represented. Even smaller countries like Malta can compete on a global stage, which is not always possible in other international competitions like the Olympics.
• Cultural Significance: The pageant is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric and history of many people worldwide.

The report concludes that these controversies, while dramatic, highlight the significant global media interest in Miss Universe. The prevalence of social media allows for greater visibility of such dramas, which can be both misunderstood and amplified. The pageant is expected to survive and continue to be cherished by countries globally, even if interest wanes in some Western nations.

6. Breaking News: Judge Resignations and Rigging Allegations

Following the recording of the main discussion, breaking news emerged from Thailand:

• Judge Resignations: Two of the eight Miss Universe judges resigned.
• Rigging Allegations: Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch accused organizers of rigging the selection process. He claimed an "impromptu jury" pre-selected finalists without input from the "real" jury, citing potential conflicts of interest due to relationships with contestants.
• Miss Universe Organization's Response: The organization denied these claims, stating that "No external group has been authorised to evaluate delegates or select finalists."

This latest development underscores the ongoing drama and challenges facing the Miss Universe pageant.