The Miss Universe pageant, set to take place on November 20, 2025, in Thailand, has been rocked by controversy following the resignation of two judges. Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch, one of the departing judges, took to Instagram to announce his exit, alleging that an ‘impromptu jury’ had preselected 30 finalists without the official panel’s knowledge. Harfouch suggested that this group included individuals with personal ties to certain contestants, raising concerns about the fairness of the competition. The Miss Universe Organisation swiftly denied these allegations, stating that no unauthorized group had been involved in the selection process. They clarified that Harfouch might have confused the situation with Beyond the Crown, a separate social impact initiative with its own independent committee. On the same day, French football manager Claude Makélélé also stepped down, citing personal reasons but expressing respect for the pageant. These resignations come in the wake of another incident in Thailand, where several contestants walked out of a pre-pageant event after Thailand’s national director publicly criticized Miss Mexico for failing to post promotional content. Despite the turmoil, Miss Universe officials have assured the public that preparations for the finals remain on track.