The Miss Universe Organization is facing yet another controversy as Miss Iceland, Helena Hafþórsdóttir O’Connor, renounces her title of Miss Universe Iceland 2025. In a recent Instagram post, O’Connor stated that she considers her contract with the organization terminated and criticized the treatment she received. She explained that after winning the Miss Universe Iceland pageant in April, she was set to represent her country at the main Miss Universe pageant in Thailand on November 21. However, her plans took a turn when she contracted severe food poisoning and was pulled out of the competition. O’Connor alleged that the national director of the Iceland pageant organization removed her from the Miss Universe competition without her consent, despite her arrangement with the Miss Universe Organization and her family’s pleas to allow her time to recover. The Miss Universe Iceland organization has categorically denied her claim. This isn’t the first time the MUO has faced controversy. One of the judges, Omar Harfouch, claimed online that the finalists were selected beforehand during a “secret vote” by an “impromptu jury.” Harfouch resigned before the organization’s final pageant in November, and Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, won the Miss Universe title this year. However, Harfouch criticized Bosch’s win on Instagram, alleging that she was a “fake winner” due to a business relationship between her father and the Miss Universe owner, Raúl Rocha. The MSO has denied Harfouch’s allegations. Another incident occurred during the pageant’s preliminary round when Miss Jamaica, Dr. Gabrielle Henry, fell off the stage while modeling an evening gown. She suffered a serious fall, resulting in an intracranial hemorrhage, a fracture, facial lacerations, and other significant injuries. Henry was admitted to the intensive care unit in Bangkok, where she was in critical condition and under constant neurological monitoring. After a month, she returned to Jamaica to receive treatment and expressed her gratitude for being surrounded by the familiar strength of Jamaica during her recovery.
