Hindi na makalalahok sa 75th Miss Universe na gaganapin sa San Juan, Puerto Rico, sa November 24, 2026, ang mga kandidata mula sa Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, at Laos.
Ito ay kasunod ng desisyon ng Miss Universe Organization (MUO) na ideklarang hindi eligible ang mga nasabing bansa sa international pageant.
Inanunsiyo ng MUO noong September 18 na hindi nito kinikilala ang franchise agreements na ginawa sa pamamagitan ng Miss Universe Eastern Pte. Ltd., na pinamumunuan ni Nawat Itsaragrisil, founder ng Miss Grand International Organization (MGI).
Ayon sa MUO, walang awtoridad ang Miss Universe Eastern na magbigay o maglipat ng operational rights para sa Miss Universe brand sa alinmang teritoryo.
Dahil dito, hindi nito kinikilala ang mga franchise arrangement para sa Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, at Singapore.
Gayunman, kinuwestiyon ng Miss Universe Eastern ang pahayag ng MUO.
Iginiit nitong may karapatan itong magpadala ng mga kandidata mula sa anim na bansa at hindi dapat maapektuhan ang kanilang paglahok dahil lamang sa sigalot sa pagitan ng dalawang panig.
Sa gitna ng kontrobersiya, ikinalungkot nina Miss Universe Malaysia 2026 Eunice Wong, Miss Universe Singapore 2026 Vion Erico Tan, at Miss Universe Thailand 2026 Tharina Botes ang kawalan ng katiyakan sa kanilang paglahok sa kumpetisyon.
Gayunman, pinili nilang maging positibo sa kabila ng pagkadismaya at ibinahagi sa social media ang kanilang saloobin tungkol sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari.
Read: MGI pulls six Southeast Asian candidates from Miss Universe 2026
EUNICE WONG: “A CHANGE IN MY JOURNEY”
Sa Instagram, ipinahayag ni Eunice Wong ang kanyang pagtanggap sa pagbabago ng kanyang mga plano, kahit pinangarap niyang katawanin ang Malaysia sa entablado ng Miss Universe sa Puerto Rico.
“A change in my journey doesn’t diminish the woman I become.
“This journey is constantly transforming me and I’m very excited to see what is unfolding next,” umpisa ng kanyang post.
Inamin ni Eunice na pinaghirapan niya ang pagkakataong makasali sa international pageant.
“I dreamed of standing on that stage in Puerto Rico, wearing Malaysia across my heart. Now, I will dream of standing on that stage in another country.
“I poured time, resources, love and hope into that dream, unexpected outcome always brings me joy and excitement because I’m a woman who’s built for uncertainties.
“I thank God for a little detour, a little detour and new adventure is always fun and exciting.I thank and trust in @nawat.tv for his decision. I appreciate your consideration for our dignity and safety.
“Everything happens for a wonderful reason, the answer will be revealed in time to come.We will have many wonderful things coming for us,” ani Eunice.
Sa kanyang mensahe, pinasalamatan din niya si Nawat, CEO ng Miss Universe Eastern, na nasa gitna ng sigalot sa Miss Universe Organization.
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VION ERICO TAN: “THIS WILL NOT MAKE ME FALTER”
Hindi rin itinago ni Vion Erico Tan ang kanyang pagkadismaya nang malaman niyang hindi na matutuloy ang kanyang paglahok sa Miss Universe 2026.
Sa isang pahayag, nagpasalamat siya sa mga sumuporta sa kanya at nagpahayag ng panghihinayang dahil hindi niya matutupad ang planong katawanin ang Singapore sa Puerto Rico.
Aniya: “To everyone who has been supporting me and sharing in my excitement about my upcoming journey to Puerto Rico, I wish I had better news to share with you today.
“I’ve just received the news t, and honestly, it has hit me harder than I can put into words. I need a little time to gather my thoughts and process everything before I share more about what comes next.
“This journey was never just about a crown or a competition. It was about the opportunity to carry Singapore’s name onto an international stage, to share our culture, our stories, and the spirit of a small nation with big dreams. That is what made this opportunity so meaningful to me.
“To everyone who has sent me kind messages, offered your encouragement, and believed in me, thank you. Even in a moment when I’m still finding the words, your support reminds me that I’m not standing here alone.”
Bagamat hindi pa niya alam kung ano ang susunod na mangyayari, tiniyak ni Vion na hindi siya susuko sa kanyang mga pangarap.
“I may not know what the next chapter holds, but one thing I know for certain is that this will not make me falter. If anything, it has made me more determined to show the world what Singapore is capable of.
“Because representing Singapore was never just about being given a stage. It is about what we carry in our hearts, the people who stand behind us, and the courage to keep going even when the path ahead changes unexpectedly. Give me a little time. I will share more with you soon.”
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THARINA BOTES: “THIS IS NOT THE END OF MY STORY”
Muling naharap sa kawalan ng katiyakan ang pangarap ni Tharina Botes na maging kinatawan ng Thailand sa Miss Universe dahil sa sigalot sa pagitan ng MUO at Miss Universe Eastern.
Noong 2021, naging first runner-up si Tharina sa Miss Universe Thailand.
Makalipas ang limang taon, muli niyang sinubukan ang kanyang kapalaran sa naturang patimpalak at sa pagkakataong ito ay nagtagumpay siya.
Kinoronahan siyang Miss Universe Thailand 2026 noong Agosto.
Gayunman, idineklara ng MUO na hindi eligible ang kinatawan ng Thailand sa 75th Miss Universe dahil sa hindi nito pagkilala sa franchise arrangement ng bansa.
Sa kabila ng pagkadismaya at kawalan ng katiyakan, nagpasalamat si Tharina sa mga taong patuloy na sumusuporta at naniniwala sa kanya.
Mensahe niya: “To everyone who has loved me, believed in me, and stood beside me throughout this journey, thank you.
“Sometimes, life doesn’t unfold the way we imagined. But I’ve learned that not every pause is a step backward, and not every detour takes us further from our dreams. Sometimes, the right things happen at the right time, in ways we may only understand later.
“A dream is never defined by a single moment, a title, or a stage. It is defined by the courage to keep believing, the strength to keep growing, and the grace to keep moving forward, even when life takes an unexpected turn.
“I will never stop dreaming, growing, or believing in the woman I am becoming. To everyone who continues to believe in me, I hope my journey reminds you to never give up on your own dreams, either.
“This is not the end of my story. It’s simply another chapter. There are still dreams to chase, beautiful moments to embrace, and so much more waiting to unfold.The sky is not the limit, and the best is yet to come.”
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