The Ugly Truth of Pageantry: What Really Happens After Crowning

Hi Friends,

Today’s topic is a difficult one to address, especially as a former titleholder, but it’s an important conversation that needs to be had regarding the disrespect from pageant organizations and what people don't see after being crowned. Recently, a video surfaced showing a verbal confrontation between Nawat Itsaragrisil, the National Director of Miss Universe Thailand and President of the Miss Grand International pageant, and Fatima Bosch, the 2025 delegate representing Mexico. The incident took place during the Sashing Ceremony, where tensions arose after Nawat spoke about the expectations and responsibilities of delegates, emphasizing their role in the success of the Miss Universe Organization. During his remarks, he directly addressed Fatima regarding alleged concerns about Mexico’s National Director and their level of participation, or lack thereof. As Fatima attempted to explain her perspective, Nawat interrupted her repeatedly, telling her to “Listen to me!” before ordering security to escort her out of the room. When Fatima chose to leave voluntarily, several other delegates appeared conflicted about whether to follow her. In response, Nawat warned that anyone who chose to leave would not be allowed to “continue.” Despite this, a number of delegates stood in solidarity with Fatima and exited the room alongside her.

Later that day, Nawat addressed the incident during a Facebook Live, where he shared his perspective, explaining his intentions, actions, and the pressures he's faced as the national director. In response to the controversy, the Miss Universe Organization released a public statement, and the Sashing Ceremony resumed with Victoria Kjaer, the reigning Miss Universe, continuing the event by sashing the remaining delegates.

In her official statement, Fatima shared the following:

"I truly love Thailand. I have so much respect for all of you, and I believe you are amazing people. But what your director, Nawat, just did was not respectful. He called me 'dumb' because of his issue with the organization, and I think it's unfair. I believe the world needs to hear and see this because we are all empowered women. This platform is meant for our voices and no one has the right to silence us. To everyone, especially women no matter how big your dreams are, even if you wear a crown, if something costs you your dignity, you need to walk away. Thank you."

I truly applaud Fatima for having the courage to speak up and stand her ground, along with the many delegates who chose to walk out in solidarity. There is undeniable power in unity and in finding strength through collective support during moments like these. I also want to recognize our reigning titleholder for taking a stand and publicly expressing her support for Fatima shortly after the incident as a reminder that true leadership is shown not just in words, but in action.

Nawat's Formal Statement and Apology

So much has unfolded since that viral video. During the welcome ceremony, Nawat issued a formal apology on stage to all the contestants, viewers, and members of the media. Following the event, he again addressed the press, becoming emotional as he expressed remorse for what had taken place. He has since reiterated his apologies multiple times through his livestreams.

My hope is that he also took the opportunity to speak with Fatima and her national director privately to offer a sincere and personal apology for his words during the orientation. It's been assumed that Miss Mexico will still be competing in the Miss Universe pageant, as she was seen participating in the welcome ceremony.

If you would like to stay up to date regarding this issue, please follow the official Miss Universe social media page, and other accounts such as @missuupdates on Instagram for the latest news.

Mistreatment In Pageantry

I want to shed light on a deeper reality that often goes unspoken of what truly happens after winning a title. It’s easy to be captivated by the glitz and glamour, the crown, the gowns, and the picture-perfect posts we share online. But behind all of that, lies a truth many don’t see. What happened November 4th is not an isolated incident; situations like this occur more often than people realize, often involving those in positions of authority over titleholders. For generations, titleholders have been expected to look beautiful, smile graciously, and be grateful for the title they hold. They’re expected to show up, serve their community, and be a servant leader. Yet, behind closed doors in meetings, phone calls, and private conversations, many are disrespected, dismissed, and left without the support they deserve.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve personally witnessed this kind of mistreatment. In my own experience, out of fear of losing my title or having the narrative turned against me, I stayed silent. I was in my early twenties then when I was still learning how to find and use my voice. Now, as a pageant trainer, I make it my mission to ensure my contestants never feel powerless and are respected. I teach them to stand firm, speak their truth, and if they can’t find their strength in the moment, they can trust that I’ll be right beside them, using my voice until they find theirs.

Miss USA 2023 and 2024

Recently, we witnessed Miss USA 2023, Noelia Voigt, resign from her title just months before completing her reign, followed shortly by her teen titleholder, UmaSofia Srivastava. Both titleholders released official statements that many interpreted as subtle references to alleged mistreatment within the Miss USA Organization, particularly involving former President and CEO Laylah Rose. Following Noelia’s resignation, Savannah Gankiewicz, her first runner-up, accepted the crown and title, while UmaSofia’s runner-up, Stephanie Skinner, chose to decline.

Noelia on the left and UmaSofia on the right

In 2024, when Alma Cooper was crowned as the new Miss USA, she stepped into her role with optimism and grace, ready to embrace the responsibilities that came with the title. Her social media presence reflected warmth and poise, always accompanied by a smile. However, some of her captions hinted at a deeper emotional layer, such as one post that read:

"...Do it alone. Do it scared. Do it underestimated. Do it with your whole heart and then some. Make the impossible look possible... When the curtains close, know that I remained true to myself, wavered to no one, and held true to my dedication to serve..."

Just before she was set to crown her successor, the Miss USA Organization underwent a leadership change, appointing Thom Brodeur as the new chairman, president, and CEO. Alma was invited to participate in the coronation ceremony in Reno earlier this year, but she respectfully declined. Her decision spoke volumes about her experience as Miss USA 2024 which is far more than any social media post ever could.

Miss USA 2024, Alma Cooper

The Significance

Choosing to resign from a title or decline the opportunity to crown your successor, it's never a decision made lightly. As young women chasing the dream of a crown, we often envision the impact we’ll make, the changes we hope to bring, and the journey that lies ahead. We begin with passion, vision, and purpose. But when faced with toxic leadership and negative experiences, that spark can slowly dim. The drive to fulfill the responsibilities of the crown fades, our smiles become harder to sustain, and what was once excitement turns into a harsh reality. In challenging moments, we’re reminded to reflect to protect our peace, to return to our core values, and to focus on what truly matters beyond the crown.

Reports have also surfaced that key elements of the Miss USA prize package, which included the promised luxury apartment, car, and the $100,000 cash prize, have allegedly, gone unfulfilled. Noelia has stated that this was not a factor upon relinquishing her crown. It's claimed by her mother, that she wants to speak out, however, due to an NDA (nondisclosure agreement) she is unable to.

Noelia and UmaSofia's mom in an exclusive interview talking about their resignation

As an organization, it is the responsibility of the team to facilitate opportunities and public appearances for their reigning titleholders. However, under Laylah Rose’s leadership, internal conflicts within the Miss USA Organization became increasingly visible. The decline in scheduled appearances leading up to Noelia’s resignation and the limited visibility of Alma’s reign painted a clear picture of growing conflicts behind the scenes. Like I mentioned earlier, once the smoke and mirrors have disappeared, and we start to see the organization for what it truly is under the poor leadership of toxic people, it feels as though our innocent hopes and dreams that flashed before our very eyes during that crowning moment has all disappeared and our drive and motivation, along with it.

By choosing to take a stand as Noelia, UmaSofia, Alma, and even Stephanie did, these women demonstrated extraordinary courage and integrity. Their decisions were more than acts of protest; they were powerful statements of self-respect and advocacy. They refused to stand behind an organization that mistreats or disrespects its titleholders, showing the world that the value of a crown should never outweigh one’s dignity. Their actions echo far beyond the stage and they are sparking a movement toward accountability, fairness, and empowerment within the pageant industry. This is how change begins: when women rise, speak truth to power, and remind us all that strength, grace, and conviction will always shine brighter than any crown.

Miss Grand International

Miss Grand International is a pageant that strongly focuses on the value of stopping war and violence, which I want to highlight. I advise all prospective contestants to do their research on the organization prior to competing. Looking at a pageant like Miss Grand International, they want to ensure that all queens embody the, "Grand," scheme throughout the competition. They are looking for the most eye catching and memorable presentations that are bold. Any diligent delegate would have the time to research previous years, queens, and past stories; one should be able to see the clear expectations, standards, and what needs to be done to have a successful journey in the competition.

Rachel Gupta's Resignation

Rachel Gupta was crowned Miss Grand International 2024, but recently announced her resignation earlier this year, citing conflicts with the organization. Nawat, the president of MGI, claims that Rachel was actually dethroned for failing to meet the pageant's expectations. The true sequence of events remains unclear. However, let's analyze the information Rachel presented in her YouTube video to better understand her perspective.

Rachel Gupta in her YouTube video titled, "The Truth about Miss Grand International - My Story"

Rachel's statement touched on several important issues, including discrepancies related to monthly stipends and living arrangements, allegations of vote-buying, claims of a hostile environment, and unfavorable contract terms.

A common practice in pageantry is to provide titleholders with a monthly stipend and/or reimbursements, in addition to a final lump sum, as compensation for their duties. Serving as a titleholder often demands a full-time commitment, and the compensation should reflect that. For example, a $100,000 grand prize can be viewed as a one-year employment contract with a corresponding salary. The organization has the rights to determine the distribution method. Smaller pageants with prizes of $5,000 or $10,000 often award the entire sum upfront, or split it in half at the beginning and end of their reign. In Rachel's case, it seems as though she was receiving her monthly stipend, however, it seemed to have stopped after a couple of stipends, which isn't clear on the actuality of the situation. MGI claims that she was not fulfilling her duties, therefore, she did not receive her stipends, however, it's possible instead for an organization to support their titleholder to succeed in meeting the expectations through formal communication instead of holding her stipends at bay.

Buying votes in pageantry isn't something new and is a way to generate funds for the organization itself. Many organizations do this and with proper research, Rachel would've known about this as well. She claims that she didn't know countries could buy votes. Even local small pageants have a form of this so this isn't something new and isn't a secret. Even though her country wasn't able to buy votes for her, she should still be proud of the outcome of winning without having to buy votes. At the end of the day, Nawat is a businessman and from my understanding of MGI as a whole, the expectation of the titleholder would be to generate income for the organization, whether that be through sales of merch, tiktok live, etc. The organization would want to hear about your ideas of generating income for the organization, especially if that's something they value and expect of their titleholders.

Nawat reacted to Rachel’s resignation with visible anger, as shown through his TikTok and Instagram live streams. He addressed and refuted her claims, clearly emotional as he presented evidence to support his side of the story. Public opinion quickly divided, some voiced support for Rachel, while others sided with Nawat’s explanations. Ultimately, Rachel’s successor, Christine Juliane Opiaza of the Philippines, was officially crowned Miss Grand International 2024.

The Miss Hmong Pageants

During my reign, I too experienced moments of deep disappointment; moments marked by disrespect, lack of support, and blatant favoritism. It became painfully clear that I was not the organization’s first choice to wear their crown or represent their name. Every project I launched, I did entirely on my own. Every event I attended was through my own initiative. Every fundraiser I organized came from my own efforts. And sadly, over a decade later, that has very much stayed the same. Through different conversations with more recent titleholders, I’ve learned that many have shared similar experiences of feeling unsupported, dismissed, or even undermined by the very organizations that should be uplifting them. Some have been disrespected behind closed doors, met with unprofessional conduct, or had their passion labeled as being “too ambitious,” as though drive and vision were qualities to be silenced rather than celebrated. These experiences are the ugly truth within the Hmong pageant community, one that urgently calls for reflection, reform, and a renewed commitment to empowering our titleholders with the respect and support they deserve.

My Message to Future Contestants

Never allow a crown to outweigh your values. Stand firm in your beliefs, and be ready for the uphill journey that will shape your strength.

At the end of the day, the greatest thing you’ll take home isn’t the crown, it’s the experience: the laughter, the lessons, the growth, and even the challenges that shaped you are all what will be left. Remember, not everything that glitter is gold, and that’s perfectly okay. What matters is how you choose to carry your crown, whether you continue to polish it or see it for what it truly represents. While not every organization is broken, it’s important to seek out the spaces and people who align with your values. Be courageous enough to speak your truth, and create an experience that allows you to sleep peacefully at night, knowing you stayed true to yourself. Holding a title is both an honor and a responsibility, and it can feel heavy at times. When those moments come, lean on your support system, your mentors, your friends, your family, and remind yourself that true strength doesn’t come from standing alone, but from standing tall with the right people by your side.

Xx

Metta