Miss Universe lifts ban on six Southeast Asian delegates

The Miss Universe organization has lifted its veto on representatives from six Southeast Asian nations—Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Laos—allowing them to compete in the 75th edition of the pageant in Puerto Rico.

The decision follows a period of uncertainty regarding the eligibility of these delegates. Previously, the Miss Universe organization had cited an “illegitimate” contract involving Nawat Itsaragrisil, the owner of Miss Grand International (MGI), as a reason for the exclusion. The organization had accused Itsaragrisil of spreading false financial information regarding payments for hosting the event.

Following the reversal, delegates have been added to official communication channels for technical guidelines. Sean Wong, the national director for the Singapore franchise, confirmed that their representative is currently processing administrative paperwork to travel to Puerto Rico for the competition scheduled for November.