Miss Universe factions clash over 2027 host country claims

Filipino pageant fans woke up to news that the 76th Miss Universe edition will be hosted in Vietnam next year, but a faction of the international organization has claimed that the 2027 host country will be announced later.

The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) issued a statement on the pageant’s official Instagram account and new corporate website to dispute the announcement made on the “Miss Universe” Facebook page claiming that the next competition will be held in Vietnam.

“The Miss Universe Organization wishes to clarify that Vietnam has not been designated as the host country for the 76th Miss Universe Competition in 2027. Consistent with Miss Universe tradition, the official host country will be announced at the conclusion of the Miss Universe 75 Final in San Juan, Puerto Rico,” the statement said.

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Two factions have emerged after Thailand’s controversial hosting of the 74th Miss Universe pageant in 2025, with one side affiliated with embattled MUO President Raul Rocha and the other one headed by Thai personality Nawat Itsaragrisil, also the president of the rival Miss Grand International pageant.

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Nawat has been exercising authority over the Eastern hemisphere and appointed himself as the CEO of “Miss Universe Eastern,” another claim that the Rocha faction has disputed.

“The Organization does not recognize any efforts, including those undertaken through Mr. Nawat Itsaragrisil, to implement or give effect to such transaction and expressly reserves all rights and remedies available to it,” the MUO statement said.

“The missuniverse.com domain and other social media accounts historically associated with the Organization are currently under the unauthorized control of individuals outside its legitimate administration. Any content published through those channels does not represent the official position of the Miss Universe Organization. Appropriate legal actions have been initiated to recover control of these assets,” it added.

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While Nawat has gained control of the Miss Universe website, and Facebook and X (formerly Twittter) accounts, MUO has advised the licensees, national directors, the media, delegates and the international pageant community to instead follow the Miss Universe accounts on Instagram and TikTok, and to monitor the missuniverseorg.com website.

“The Miss Universe Organization further clarifies that MU East, or any similar designation does not exist as a body, division, affiliate, or authorized representative of the Miss Universe Organization. No individual acting under any such designation has authority to speak for the Organization, conduct negotiations, execute agreements, make commitments, or receive payments on its behalf,” MUO reminded the public.

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The 75th Miss Universe pageant will be held in Puerto Rico. MUO CEO Ronald Day has claimed in an earlier interview that the competition will not have any representatives from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Laos, countries where Nawat is the Miss Universe national director. /ra