The Miss Universe 2025 pageant, scheduled to take place in Bangkok, Thailand, has been hit by a major controversy just days before the grand finale. Renowned musician and official judge Omar Harfouch has resigned from his position, accusing the organization of pre-selecting finalists and compromising the fairness of the competition. His shocking claims have sparked intense debate across the global pageant community and raised concerns about the transparency of one of the world’s biggest beauty events.
Judge Omar Harfouch Alleges Pre-Decided Top 30
In his resignation statement, Harfouch revealed that the Top 30 finalists were selected nearly a week before the contestants had even completed their preliminary rounds. According to him, the official judging panel was never allowed to evaluate all 136 participants as per protocol.
He further alleged the existence of a “secret committee”—an unofficial group that had already decided which contestants would move forward. Harfouch claimed that some members of this private panel had personal relationships with contestants, compromising the integrity of the results.
In a startling allegation, he also said he had evidence of a romantic relationship between one committee member and a contestant, which, if true, would violate the fundamental guidelines of impartial judging.
“I Cannot Play With Someone’s Life,” Says Harfouch
Harfouch stated that as an official judge, he and seven others were supposed to evaluate every contestant equally. Instead, he said they were instructed to judge only the 30 women preselected by the hidden panel.
Quoting from his statement:
“This is unfair. I cannot play with someone’s life or dreams. A decision had already been made before we even started judging.”
The musician claimed that his resignation came after a heated argument with Miss Universe owner Raúl Rocha, further escalating tensions behind the scenes. Several participants have reportedly expressed support for Harfouch, appreciating his courage in speaking up.
Miss Universe Organization Denies All Allegations, Issues Lifetime Ban
Following Harfouch’s accusations, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) released an official statement dismissing his claims as false and baseless. MUO asserted that the judging process remains independent, unbiased, and strictly monitored.
In a severe counteraction, the organization banned Omar Harfouch for life from all future Miss Universe events and collaborations. MUO emphasized that his statements were an attempt to “mislead the public” and damage the reputation of the pageant.
The controversy, however, has left many viewers questioning the selection process, especially since the allegations surfaced just three days before the final night.
Not the First Miss Universe 2025 Controversy
This isn’t the first time the 2025 edition of Miss Universe has attracted criticism. Earlier, the event faced backlash when contestants were instructed to film promotional videos without adequate notice.
Mexican contestant Fatima Bosch raised objections and informed her national director before participating. According to reports, Anne Jakrajutatip (Nawat) reprimanded Bosch publicly, accusing her of being “uncooperative” and going so far as to call her “dumb” for seeking approval before filming.
Following huge online criticism, the Miss Universe Organization later condemned Nawat’s behavior and distanced itself from the incident.
A Pageant Shaken by Uncertainty
With back-to-back controversies, Miss Universe 2025 now finds itself under intense scrutiny. Pageant fans worldwide are demanding an independent investigation into Harfouch’s claims to restore faith in the competition.
Whether the event proceeds smoothly in Bangkok or faces further setbacks remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—this year’s Miss Universe has become one of the most talked-about and debated editions in recent history.
