The recent controversy surrounding Miss England’s withdrawal from the ongoing Miss World pageant in Hyderabad, India, quickly spread across the beauty pageant circuit when Rachel Gupta, who had recently been crowned Miss Grand International in Thailand, also announced her resignation from the title. Rachel Gupta accused the beauty pageant organizers of misbehavior, harassment, and body shaming. The Miss Grand International organization, in turn, stated that she had failed to fulfill her responsibilities and had engaged in external projects without prior approval. Consequently, they announced the immediate termination of her title and demanded that she return the crown to their headquarters within 30 days.
The controversy began on May 28 when Miss Grand International made a social media announcement stripping Rachel Gupta of her title. On the same day, Rachel Gupta initially responded by announcing her resignation but later released a long video across her social media platforms. In the video, she alleged that for the past seven months, she had endured mistreatment that would shock anyone who heard her story. She stated that her intention was to be transparent and to speak out for all the girls who shared her dreams when they entered such competitions. She claimed that she had not received the agreed-upon compensation, was provided inadequate accommodation, and was subjected to body shaming.
While Rachel Gupta made these serious allegations, the Miss Grand International management justified its decision to revoke her title by saying that she had failed to meet the obligations required of her, including declining a planned trip to Guatemala. The organization insisted that her actions breached the contractual agreement and thus stripped her of the title with immediate effect. They have formally required her to return the crown and no longer associate herself with the Miss Grand International 2024 title.
Rachel Gupta’s video and the organization’s counterclaims have added fuel to a broader conversation about the treatment of contestants in beauty pageants. As this incident unfolds, it has highlighted the darker side of these glamorous competitions, raising questions about the treatment of women, the pressures they face, and the organizational practices of international beauty pageants.
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