Overview
- Omar Harfouch quit the judging panel days before the Nov. 21 event, alleging an “impromptu jury” preselected 30 finalists and citing conflicts of interest.
- He later claimed a member of the alleged committee was involved with a contestant, a claim not independently verified in the provided reporting.
- The Miss Universe Organization denied any unauthorized jury, said evaluations follow MUO protocols, and barred Harfouch from associating with its brand.
- MUO described the highlighted Beyond the Crown committee as a separate social impact program that operates independently from competition judging.
- A second judge, Claude Makélélé, announced he would not attend, as contestants expressed frustration after learning of the dispute via social media; the pageant remains set for Nov. 21 in Bangkok.