As Miss Universe began to unveil preparations for its 75th edition in Puerto Rico, the announcement was immediately met with a flood of comments on social media. The public is demanding public scoring, genuine judges, and independent oversight of the vote. This distrust is fueled by the scandals of the previous pageant, the investigation targeting co-owner Raúl Rocha Cantú, and the particularly serious accusations leveled by the DEA regarding ties between the Mexican government and drug cartels.
Miss Universe is acting as if nothing happened, while internet users are demanding answers.
Ronald Day, CEO of Miss Universe, has released images showing the preparations for the next edition of the pageant. Surrounded by screens and working documents, producers, directors, technicians, set designers, choreographers, and costume designers are preparing the show, which is expected to take place in November in Puerto Rico. Day is pleased to see the various elements of the evening taking shape and promises a spectacular ceremony to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Miss Universe. The official date of the final will be announced soon.
But the comments posted under this announcement focus almost entirely on the stage, the performers, or the costumes. A large part of the public immediately demands guarantees regarding the selection of the future winner. "Fairness and transparency are what we want. Don't repeat last year's scandal. Crown a worthy candidate.", writes one internet user.
Another person openly calls for the publication of the results: "We want transparency. We want the scores. We want the judges to choose the winner. No more fraud."
Chartered accountants requested to monitor the election
Many internet users are asking whether independent professionals will be responsible for monitoring the vote and certifying the results. "I'm not as concerned about the production itself as I am about the lack of transparency and fairness in the next edition. Will there be certified public accountants to oversee the selection process?", asks an account specializing in beauty pageants.
The questions also concern the actual role of the judges. One internet user wants to know if the jury assembled during the final will truly have the final say, or if the winner will be chosen based on evaluations carried out beforehand. "Besides a great show, what we want is transparency. How will the contestants be judged? Will the judges on the final night have the final say?"she asks.
This protest appears directly under the official publications dedicated to Miss Universe 2026. It therefore does not only come from accounts hostile to the competition, but also from subscribers who continue to follow its news while refusing to blindly believe in the regularity of the result.
"Who will have enough money to buy the crown?"
Some comments openly accuse the organization of being beholden to the money and interests of its owners. "The question now is who will have a strong enough visa and enough money to buy the crown.", writes one internet user.
Another question: "Who will pay the most this year? Will there be auctions, or will you simply approach the candidates with large sums of money?"
Under another message, a subscriber jokes about a possible new victory for Mexico, while a comment asserts that no crown should be "Purchased just like last year."
These accusations reveal a deep rift between Miss Universe and its audience. The future organization of the event is now being viewed with suspicion even before the announcement of the contestants, judges, and precise selection rules.
Fatima Bosch's victory continues to fuel distrust
The reactions directly reference the previous election, won by Mexican Fátima Bosch. That edition was marked by resignations within the jury and accusations regarding the pre-selection of finalists. Omar Harfouch He was the first to resign from his judging position before the final. He claimed, with supporting evidence, that the competition had been rigged from the start and that a committee separate from the official jury had participated in selecting the 30 finalists, without the announced judges having actually taken part in this initial stage. Fátima Bosch's victory, orchestrated by Raúl Rocha Cantú, co-owner of the pageant, confirmed the accusations of cheating. Since then, the Miss Universe brand has lost all legitimacy and credibility.
The DEA accuses the Mexican government of being too close to the cartels.
The latest controversy surrounding Miss Universe erupts as the Mexican government itself faces particularly serious accusations from the United States. Terrance Cole, director of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, asserts that there is an extremely close link between the Mexican government and drug cartels. He describes the criminal networks and the government as having become "inseparable"going so far as to present them as "One and the same thing."
These statements put pressure on the Mexican administration, which is accused of not doing enough to combat certain criminal networks and their economic and political backers. The American official promises to prosecute not only the cartels, but also their facilitators, distributors, money launderers, and all those involved in financing or operating their activities.
Claudia Sheinbaum rejects a political accusation
For her part, the Mexican president rejects the DEA director's statements. Claudia Sheinbaum believes these remarks resemble a political attack more than an accusation based on specific evidence. She calls on U.S. authorities to also investigate drug distribution networks, money laundering, and drug trafficking operating in the United States. She also points to the operations conducted in Mexico against criminal organizations, the arrests made, and the significant seizures of drugs and weapons. The Mexican government affirms its desire to continue its cooperation with Washington but refuses any direct intervention by U.S. authorities on its territory.
Raúl Rocha is the subject of a criminal investigation
As a reminder, Raúl Rocha Cantú owns 50% of Miss Universe through Legacy Holding Group USA. A co-owner of the pageant, the businessman is the subject of an investigation in Mexico into organized crime, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, and fuel theft. Several arrest warrants have been issued for members of a network operating between Guatemala and Mexico. His bank accounts have also been frozen as part of the money laundering and organized crime investigations. His position within Miss Universe therefore naturally raises questions about the influence he retains within the organization, its funding, the selection of its leaders, and the winner selection process.
Two separate cases that fuel the same distrust
The DEA's accusations against the Mexican government and the investigation targeting Raúl Rocha are two separate cases. But the accumulation of these accusations puts the pageant in a particularly delicate situation. Miss Universe is partly run by a businessman targeted by a criminal investigation, while his country's government is accused by the DEA of maintaining close ties with the cartels.
Miss Universe ordered to prove the regularity of her election
With the Puerto Rico final just months away, Miss Universe can no longer pretend everything is fine. Internet users are demanding the release of the scores, the judges' identities, their actual powers, the selection criteria, and the presence of an independent body to oversee the voting. The organization has yet to publicly present a detailed plan addressing all these demands. The next edition will therefore have to demonstrate that the winner will be chosen by a truly decisive jury, according to public and verifiable rules. And that's far from a sure thing…
