The Miss Universe pageant, already in disarray after two judges tendered their resignations—one citing allegations of a rigged competition and another for “unforeseen personal reasons”—experienced further turmoil when Jamaica’s contestant, Gabrielle Henry, fell from the stage during the preliminary evening gown round.

Henry was observed walking gracefully across the stage in a sequined orange dress, acknowledging the audience, before her tumble from the main platform during the 2025 competition held in Thailand.

The Jamaican organization confirmed that Ms. Henry was swiftly transported to Paolo Rangsit Hospital, where medical professionals are attending to her. The organization stated that she did not sustain any life-threatening injuries following the incident.

“I was there with her family and her, and thankfully, there are no broken bones and she is under good care. She will remain under observation for the rest of the night and we will remain in touch with her family to support her,” Miss Universe pageant president Raul Rocha posted on Instagram, adding that he visited Henry at the hospital. “Our prayers go out for her prompt recovery.”

Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French composer and businessman, resigned from the eight-member jury earlier this week, asserting that a “secret vote” had been conducted to pre-select 30 contestants from the total of 136.

“This selection was conducted by individuals who are not official members of the jury, myself included. To this day, no one knows who the selected 30 are, except one individual who holds the results,” Harfouch declared.

“I could not stand before the public and television cameras, pretending to legitimize a vote in which I never participated. Some of the countries eliminated through this process could be experiencing war, discrimination, or geopolitical sensitivities. Viewers would assume the jury made these decisions, and I cannot accept responsibility for a process in which I played no part. To pretend otherwise would be dishonest.”

The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) addressed the allegations in an Instagram post on Tuesday, stating that all its judging procedures for the 74th Miss Universe competition remain “official, transparent, and fully governed by MUO protocols.”

It further added that no impromptu jury has been established, and no external group has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists.

A second judge, former French soccer player Claude Makélélé, announced his withdrawal “due to unforeseen personal reasons.”

“This was a challenging decision, as I hold Miss Universe in the highest esteem. The platform embodies empowerment, diversity, and excellence — values I have always championed throughout my career,” Makélélé conveyed via his account. “I sincerely apologize to the organization, the contestants, and everyone involved, and I hope to contribute again in the future under more favorable circumstances.”

The final day of the Miss Universe competition is scheduled for Nov. 21.