2 Miss Universe Judges Quit Amid Claims Of 'Secret Jury' Deciding Finalists

Two judges have resigned from the Miss Universe competition amid allegations of a rigged selection process. Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch announced his resignation on Instagram, claiming that a "secret jury" had pre-selected finalists without the knowledge of the official judges. Harfouch accused the unofficial jury of having personal ties to some contestants, which he said posed a conflict of interest. The Miss Universe Organization has denied these claims, stating that no unauthorized group has been involved in the selection process. They suggested that Harfouch may have confused the official judging with the "Beyond the Crown" program, a separate social impact initiative.

Shortly after Harfouch's announcement, former French soccer star Claude Makélélé also resigned, citing "unforeseen personal reasons." He expressed his respect for the Miss Universe platform, which he described as representing empowerment, diversity, and excellence.

These resignations come just days before the pageant is set to conclude on Friday (November 21) in Bangkok. The controversy follows another incident where a top organizer publicly criticized Miss Mexico, leading to a walkout by several contestants. The Miss Universe Organization has since taken steps to address these issues, including sending international executives to oversee the competition.