Two Miss Universe Judges Resign Amid Allegations of Favouritism

Two judges have stepped down from the Miss Universe panel just three days before the final results are due, raising concerns about transparency in the selection process. One of them has alleged serious irregularities in how finalists were chosen, according to reports.

The 74th edition of the Miss Universe competition is being held across Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, with the grand finale scheduled for Friday. On Tuesday, Lebanese–French musician Omar Harfouch announced his resignation from the eight-member jury through a post on Instagram. In his statement, he claimed that a separate group had already pre-selected certain finalists even before the main judging began.

Only hours later, former French football manager Claude Makélélé also withdrew from his role on the panel, citing “personal reasons”. He did not comment on Harfouch’s allegations.

In his post, Harfouch said an unofficial committee had been formed to narrow the field of 136 contestants down to 30 finalists. He wrote that none of the official jury members, including himself, had been present during these decisions. He added that he learned about the committee’s activities only through social media, which left him “shocked”.

Harfouch further alleged that some members of this unofficial group had personal relationships with certain contestants. However, he did not explain how this committee operated or how it might have undermined the authority of the official judges.

Miss Universe organisers have rejected all allegations. They stated that no external body has been authorised to evaluate contestants or select finalists. According to the organisation, Harfouch may have confused the committee with “Beyond the Crown” – a newly launched social-impact initiative that runs independently of the main competition and has its own selection panel.

In his resignation message, Makélélé described stepping down as a “difficult decision”. He praised Miss Universe as a platform that celebrates empowerment, diversity, and excellence — values he said he has always upheld.