The crisis surrounding Miss Universe 2026 in Puerto Rico is becoming explosive. After the threat from the Miss Universe Organization, chaired by Raúl Rocha, to exclude six entire countries from the 75th edition – Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore – Nawat Itsaragrisil is now retaliating on a completely different scale: the head of Miss Universe Eastern and Miss Grand International warns that up to 95 nations could refuse to participate in the competition in Puerto Rico with MU West.
Nawat's response is commensurate with the offensive. Faced with a Miss Universe Organization (MUO) led by Raúl Rocha that directly threatens six franchises and their contestants amidst an internal power struggle, Nawat defends the licenses, releases the contracts, prepares a legal counterattack, and stakes the 95 territories of MU East on the organization . The conflict tearing Miss Universe apart comes at the worst possible time for the organization, as Puerto Rico is set to host the competition and several million dollars of public money allocated to the event are already the subject of serious scrutiny.
Nawat also issued an ultimatum: MUO, the organization headed by Raúl Rocha, had seven days to clearly explain which entity intends to organize the continuation of the competition in Puerto Rico and under what legal authority . This adds further pressure as questions already mount regarding the millions of dollars spent on Miss Universe in Puerto Rico.
Miss Universe threatens 6 countries before Puerto Rico, Nawat responds with 95 nations
MUO's new offensive directly targets Miss Universe Thailand , Miss Universe Indonesia, Miss Universe Vietnam, Miss Universe Laos, Miss Universe Malaysia, and Miss Universe Singapore. Their licenses are being challenged, and their representatives could be prevented from participating in the 75th edition, which will be held in Puerto Rico.
Six candidates risk losing their place in Puerto Rico due to a clash unfolding at the top of the Miss Universe organization. On one side are MUO and MU West, led by Raúl Rocha. On the other are MU East and MGI, headed by Nawat. The national franchises, their teams, sponsors, and candidates are now directly caught in the middle of this conflict.
MGI responded immediately: “MGI categorically rejects these claims.” The company, headed by Nawat, asserts that it holds the contractual rights or is the authorized operator of the Miss Universe licenses in these six territories under the agreements concluded and the powers granted to MU East. MU East, for its part, claims to have the exclusive right to operate, promote, and develop the brand in 95 Eastern territories and the right to appoint and manage franchisees there.
Nawat releases the contracts and defends the candidates threatened with exclusion in Puerto Rico
MGI's response is based on commitments already made. The group points to the investments made, the commercial agreements concluded, the national directors appointed, the sponsors committed, and the preparations launched around the six franchises.
Candidates have been selected to represent their countries in Puerto Rico, and national organizations have been working on this for several months. Their exclusion would therefore have direct consequences for the representatives, the national teams, and all partners who have invested in their participation in Miss Universe.
MGI maintains that its rights remain in effect and announces that it will defend existing contracts. The group believes that any challenge must respect the signed agreements, the respective powers of the various entities, and applicable law. MU East also asserts that the six delegates selected from Thailand, Indonesia , Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore have a contractual right to participate in the international competition.
Miss Universe had entrusted 95 countries to Nawat before preparing Puerto Rico
The current position of MUO, chaired by Raúl Rocha, is primarily hampered by a decision made a few weeks earlier: Miss Universe had officially appointed Nawat Itsaragrisil as head of Miss Universe Eastern, encompassing 95 countries. His appointment as CEO of MU East was announced on July 31, with responsibility for a team representing precisely those 95 territories.
Nawat thus held a central role with the franchises, national directors, contestants, partners, and broadcasters in this region. The six countries now threatened with exclusion from the Puerto Rico competition fall precisely within the area claimed by MU East.
The contradiction is particularly awkward for MUO: Miss Universe entrusted 95 territories to Nawat before part of the organization is now contesting licenses from that same area, just weeks before the Puerto Rico event.
Tensions between Raúl Rocha and Nawat had already erupted publicly when Rocha's team published a statement directly targeting Nawat before deleting it . The conflict now directly affects the list of countries likely to participate in Puerto Rico.
MGI warns MUO: the 6 licenses will be defended in court
Nawat and MGI are now taking legal action. The group announces that it will take "all necessary and appropriate legal measures" to protect its licenses, investments, and the interests of the applicants, national directors, and partners involved.
MGI is considering legal injunctions, claims for damages, and the recovery of losses resulting from any breach of its contracts. The exclusion of the six Puerto Rican delegations could therefore immediately trigger new legal proceedings surrounding Miss Universe.
For Raúl Rocha and MUO, the problem becomes particularly serious: every decision taken against the six countries can now lead to a legal challenge, while the organization already has to manage the preparation for Puerto Rico and the issues surrounding the financing of the contest.
Nawat gives MUO 7 days and demands to know who will actually be organizing Puerto Rico
Nawat Itsaragrisil has now set a deadline. He is giving MUO seven days to clarify which structure intends to organize the continuation of Miss Universe and under what legal name future decisions concerning Puerto Rico will be made: “Within seven days, there must be an answer. Will you continue the competition or not? Or will you sign a new document without using the name MUO, but signing in the name of the West? Explain this so that we can properly apply the law.”
The question addressed to the group chaired by Raúl Rocha is direct: which entity actually has the necessary authority to organize Miss Universe in Puerto Rico, sign the documents and decide the fate of the franchises?
The problem is all the more serious as MU East claims that JKN Universe LLC is based on a structure owned 50% by MU East and 50% by MU West and that a unilateral position cannot be presented as that of the whole organization without the required agreement between the two parties.
Faced with 6 censored countries, Nawat threatens to expel 95 nations
The most dramatic response concerns precisely those 95 territories of Miss Universe Eastern . Faced with MUO's intention to exclude six countries, Nawat warns that the response could significantly impact the Puerto Rico competition: "We will ensure that 95 countries do not participate in the competition with you. Do you know what 'Empower Woman' means? Not participating in the competition. 'Empower Woman' will never die."
The threat completely upends the balance of power. Raúl Rocha and MUO are threatening six franchises. Nawat responds by putting up to 95 territories on the line, territories that might not participate in the contest being held in Puerto Rico.
These 95 nations have not individually announced their withdrawal. Nawat outlines the response he intends to implement if MUO continues its offensive. The number corresponds to the scope entrusted to Miss Universe Eastern upon her appointment.
Puerto Rico is already at the heart of another embarrassing problem for Raúl Rocha
This international battle erupts at a time when Puerto Rico is already one of the most sensitive issues surrounding Raúl Rocha.
Nawat has released several bank documents concerning the millions of dollars paid out in connection with Miss Universe. Statements have notably revealed more than $3,27 million in transactions following payments originating from Puerto Rico.
Several transactions directly involve Raúl Rocha or entities that Nawat implicates. The financial flows related to the Puerto Rico competition have thus become another front in the conflict between the president of MUO and the head of MU East.
In addition, a further million dollars was requested on September 2nd, after Puerto Rico had already paid 4,3 million . The payment was then initiated on September 10th, by which time questions about the use of public funds surrounding Miss Universe had already become public.
Nawat also wants to take the battle to court in Puerto Rico.
During his press conference on September 18, Nawat directly targeted Jennifer González-Colón, Governor of Puerto Rico, and Willianette Robles Cancel, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. He announced his intention to initiate legal proceedings against them.
Nawat also makes an extremely serious accusation, alleging complicity in money laundering. This accusation, brought by the Thai leader, will have to be proven in court. Nevertheless, it adds considerable pressure to the Miss Universe pageant being held in Puerto Rico.
Questions surrounding public funds have already reached Puerto Rican institutions: an emergency meeting was held in the Senate, and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company pledged to provide information regarding expenses and contracts related to the pageant. The Senate cites $8,7 million in public funds allocated to ensure the Miss Universe competition was held on the island. The $8,7 million case and the calls for an investigation into Miss Universe are detailed here.
The Puerto Rico contest thus finds itself at the crossroads of two simultaneous crises: the finances surrounding Raúl Rocha and the international battle over franchises led by Nawat.
Puerto Rico was supposed to host 6 fewer countries, Nawat responds by putting 95 nations on the line.
MUO's threat against six countries ultimately provoked a reaction of a completely different magnitude. Nawat defended its contracts, prepared legal challenges, and now threatened to deprive Puerto Rico of the support of some of the 95 territories of MU East.
The contrast is striking. MUO, headed by Raúl Rocha, is trying to prevent six franchises from participating. Nawat, which runs MU East and MGI, is responding by leveraging its network's contractual rights and demanding that its opponents explain within seven days who actually has the power to organize Miss Universe.
Just weeks before the 75th edition, the threat to exclude six countries has therefore had an immediate effect: transforming an internal conflict into an international confrontation likely to profoundly disrupt the Puerto Rico competition.
