New drama unfolds: Six Asian countries barred from 75th Miss Universe
The stage was set for the 75th Miss Universe Competition in Puerto Rico, but before the festivities could begin, controversy erupted. On October 21, six Asian countries—Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Laos—announced they would not participate in the highly anticipated event scheduled for November 24. The announcement, made through Miss Grand International (MGI), sent shockwaves across the global pageant community. Unlike past withdrawals, when countries pulled out by choice, the circumstances were different this time. These nations were barred from competing due to a heated corporate franchise dispute. At the heart of the controversy lies a disagreement between JKN Universe LLC and Miss Universe Eastern, managed by Nawat Itsaragrisil. JKN Universe LLC declared that the national franchise agreements—previously held by Miss Universe Eastern—were now invalid. Meanwhile, MGI maintains that it had secured the rights for these territories via legitimate contracts ...