Maihahalintulad sa naging karanasan nina Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach at first runner-up Ariadna Gutiérrez ang sinapit ni Miss Universe Haiti 2026 first runner-up Angélique François sa gabi ng koronasyon noong Agosto 23, 2026.
Naganap ang Miss Universe Haiti 2026 grand coronation sa Little Haiti Cultural Complex sa Miami, Florida, sa halip na sa Haiti dahil sa patuloy na karahasan sa naturang bansa.
Naging kontrobersiyal ang koronasyon matapos magkaroon ng kalituhan sa pag-anunsiyo ng pangalan ng nagwagi.
Ipinutong ni Miss Universe Haiti 2025 Melissa Queenie Sapini ang korona kay Angélique, kahit si Tatenda Josephina Rameau ang opisyal na nagwagi.
MISS UNIVERSE HAITI ORGANIZATION CLARIFIES CROWNING ERROR
Kinabukasan, Agosto 24, agad naglabas ng opisyal na pahayag ang Miss Universe Haiti Organization upang ipaliwanag ang nangyari.
Anila: “On behalf of Miss Universe Haiti, we would like to sincerely address the unfortunate error that occurred during last night's crowning ceremony.
“Due to a human error during the announcement of the final results, the wrong contestant was mistakenly crowned. We sincerely apologize to our contestants, their families, our supporters, and everyone who witnessed the moment.
“To clarify the official results:
"Tatenda Rameau — Miss Universe Haiti 2026
"Angélique François — 1st Runner-Up
“These are the official and final results of the Miss Universe Haiti 2026 competition. Any claims or versions suggesting that there are alternative official results are false.
“We take full responsibility for this mistake and want to assure everyone that the official results have been reviewed and confirmed.
“This unfortunate moment does not take away from the dedication, hard work, and grace displayed by all of our incredible contestants throughout this journey.
"We are grateful to everyone who supported Miss Universe Haiti 2026 and ask for your continued respect and support as we move forward.
"Congratulations once again to Tatenda Rameau, Miss Universe Haiti 2026.”
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ANGÉLIQUE FRANÇOIS BREAKS HER SILENCE
Walong araw matapos ang kontrobersyal na koronasyon, naglabas naman si Angélique ng sarili niyang pahayag tungkol sa nangyari.
Sa isang Instagram post noong Agosto 31, sinabi niyang wala siyang direktang natanggap na komunikasyon mula sa organisasyon tungkol sa insidente at nilinaw na ang kanyang pahayag ay batay sa sarili niyang karanasan.
Saad niya: “I want to begin by stating I have not heard from the organization directly regarding the incident. I am making it clear that this statement is based on my experience.
“Anyone that may have made a statement or quote the incident are FALSE and can be reported. I have not given anyone permission or rights to comment.
“I decided as a woman of integrity. honesty. and faithful belief, this message is necessary.”
Binigyang-diin din ni Angélique na hindi niya sinisisi o inaaway ang kanyang kapwa kandidata na kalaunan ay kinoronahang Miss Universe Haiti 2026.
“First of all, I do not support or condone bullying, harassment, or personal attacks against anyone, including the winner.
"At this time, I want to publicly state that I stand with her and support her. I ask that everyone extend her grace, encouragement, and kind words.
"We are all Haitian women and this is a stage that CELEBRATES AND UNITE Haitian women across the world.
“As someone who has represented Haiti in the past my mission is to unite the diaspora.”
WHAT HAPPENED ON STAGE?
Sa kanyang pahayag, detalyadong ikinuwento ni Angélique kung ano ang naging karanasan niya sa kontrobersyal na sandali sa entablado.
Ipinaliwanag niya muna na maliit ang venue at malapit ang stage sa audience, dahilan upang malinaw niyang makita ang mga tao sa loob ng auditorium.
“WHAT HAPPENED ON STAGE. The auditorium is small, and the stage was very close to the audience to the point throughout the evening, I was able to make direct eve contact with people in the room. This is important to know because the speakers connected to the stage is position farther than perceived.”
Habang papalapit ang final announcement, sinabi ni Angélique na malakas na isinisigaw ng audience ang kanyang pangalan.
“When the final two contestants were walking to position to determine the winner, the audience began chanting my name, 'ANGIE, ANGIE!'
"With the admiration of pre-celebration I became overwhelmed with mixed emotions and excitement. I initially blacked out to refrain from passing out and I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING.”
Nang tawagin ang kanyang pangalan, lalo raw siyang nalito dahil hindi niya agad naunawaan kung sino ang idineklarang winner.
“Once my name was called by the director, I was struck with confusion as to who is the winner. EVERYONE reaction was neutral so I could not read the room to understand the final result.
“I have competed in pageants before and I HAVE NEVER HEARD the 1st runner up name get called without addressing ‘The winner will now be called, but for any reason the winner cannot fulfill her duties the first runner up is to take her place.’”
Lalo raw siyang naniwalang siya ang nanalo nang lapitan siya ng dating Miss Haiti at ng Puerto Rico queen.
“So once I was approached by the former Miss Haiti and the Puerto Rico queen the Puerto Rico queen was carrying the first-runner-up award, while the former Miss Haiti was carrying the winner's award.
“As the former Miss Haiti congratulated me, I asked her, ‘Did I win?’ because I still did not understand what was happening.
“I asked her again. She said, 'Yes, come on,' while the Puerto Rico queen instructed me to turn around so the sash and crown could be placed.”
Dahil dito, naniwala si Angélique na siya ang nagwagi.
“At that point, I believed I had won. I looked towards my family, and they began celebrating. Naturally, I celebrated with them.”
Ngunit hindi nagtagal ay inanunsyio ng director na nagkaroon ng correction sa resulta.
“Shortly afterward, the director announced over the microphone that a correction had been made.”
Nang mapagtanto niya ang nangyari, sinabi ni Angélique na umatras siya upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon si Tatenda na ipagdiwang ang kanyang pagkapanalo.
“Once I realized what had happened. I stepped to the side so the queen could have her moment. At the same time, I was overwhelmed by the thought that the entire world was watching and that 1 might become the center of a major pageant controversy.”
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ANGÉLIQUE: “THIS IS A MOMENT OF TURNAROUND”
Aminado si Angélique na nakakahiya at nakakabagabag ang nangyari, ngunit pinili raw niyang tingnan ito bilang bahagi ng kanyang journey.
“At the time, it felt embarrassing and deeply unsettling, but I realized this is a moment of turnaround.”
Ibinahagi rin ni Angélique kung gaano katagal niyang pinaghandaan ang pagkakataong lumaban para sa Miss Universe Haiti crown.
“The truth is that I had trained for this moment since 2022. This was my third and final attempt to compete for Miss Universe Haiti, and I gave it everything I had
“However, only one of us could leave with the crown,” saad niya.
Binalikan din Angélique ang isang mensaheng ibinahagi niya sa kanyang mga kapwa kandidata bago ang kompetisyon.
“After reflecting on everything that happened, I remembered what I shared with my beautiful sisters during our pink pajama party, ‘One of us would leave with the crown, but each of us would leave with our own crown. Our crowns represent our individual journeys, our purpose, and the impact we are meant to make in the world.’”
Para kay Angélique, maaaring bahagi rin ng kanyang journey ang kontrobersiyal na karanasan.
“Perhaps this moment is part of my journey. It is a reminder to evervone that resilience is revealed through the way we continue to stand, persevere, and rise after difficult experiences.”
ANGÉLIQUE: “I WILL NOT AND HAVE NOT, MEASURED MY SELF-WORTH BY A CROWN”
Sa kabila ng nangyari, iginiit ni Angélique na hindi niya sinusukat ang kanyang halaga batay sa pagkakaroon ng korona.
“I want to be clear, I WILL NOT AND HAVE NOT, measured my self-worth by a crown. The opinions and voices of others are not my responsibility to carry. Before people formed opinions about me, I already had a purpose.”
Ibinahagi rin niya ang mensaheng natanggap niya mula sa dating Miss Haiti matapos ang pageant.
“The former Miss Haiti reached out to me immediately after the pageant stating ‘I am SO DEEPLY SORRY. I was extremely confused but someone backstage made a mistake on telling me who to go to. I truly truly apologize. You did such an amazing iob and I'm so so proud of you.’”
Sa huli, nagpasalamat si Angélique sa mga sumuporta sa kanya at sinabing hindi rito nagtatapos ang kanyang kuwento.
“Thank you for your kind words, your support, and your encouragement. This is not the end of my story, it is only the beginning. I invite you to stay tuned and see what lies ahead.”
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