Miss Universe Contestant Shares Her Experience with Pageant Challenges and Health Concerns
Melissa Sapini.
Ricardo Saint-Cyr
Miss Universe Controversies Take Center Stage as Contestants Speak Out
The Miss Universe Organization crowned its latest champion, Fátima Bosch from Mexico, during a highly publicized event in Bangkok on November 21. Her victory comes amid a backdrop of controversies, including allegations of rigged results and the resignations of three members of the selection committee just days before the pageant. The organization has denied these claims of misconduct.
In the wake of the international pageant, Melissa Sapini, who represented Haiti, has shared her experiences and concerns, highlighting what she describes as “many red flags” throughout her time in Thailand. Sapini, previously crowned Miss Massachusetts USA, voiced her discontent with the pageant’s proceedings shortly after returning home to Boston.
She recalled, “Every single day, there was something. Every single day, there were whispers between girls of, ‘Okay, is this weird to you? Am I going crazy?'” She emphasized that numerous warning signs were apparent from the beginning.
The controversy escalated on November 4, when a livestream captured a heated confrontation between pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil and Fátima Bosch. According to Sapini, it was during this incident that an atmosphere of tension became palpable. She described how Itsaragrisil allegedly threatened contestants with disqualification if they did not comply with orders.
Chaos ensued in the meeting room, leaving contestants confused. “It was silent,” she explained. “We were all so shocked … trying to figure out what’s going on.”
Despite warnings that leaving the meeting could result in disqualification, Sapini chose to support Bosch and exited the room, voicing her incredulity at the situation. “We’re at the beginning, and how dare you tell us that we’re out of the competition?” she remarked.
Following the viral incident, the Miss Universe owner, Raul Rocha, announced sanctions against Itsaragrisil, restricting his participation in the pageant. However, Sapini reported that contestants continued to encounter the executive in the following weeks.
From that point onward, the conditions appeared to worsen. Sapini expressed alarm when many contestants fell ill, stating, “So many girls were hospitalized. Girls were dropping like flies, left and right.”
She recounted that group chats among contestants were filled with messages about flu-like symptoms and food poisoning. While some requests for help were acknowledged, Sapini lamented that assistance was often limited to advising women to seek medical care.
“The conditions did not change,” she noted. “They were just giving us these box lunches that were making people sick… That scared me.”
A representative for Miss Grand International responded, stating that the organization follows strict food management standards and had requested health information from the contestants in advance. They contended that a lack of responses from contestants hindered their ability to provide appropriate meals.
Furthermore, while medical staff were present, many contestants felt their health concerns were inadequately addressed. Sapini recounted that missing rehearsals due to illness jeopardized important aspects of the competition, since staying engaged was essential.
As the competition edges closer, Sapini reflected on her personal sacrifices, having taken significant time off school for Miss USA and subsequently to participate in Miss Haiti. She also expressed dismay at allegations of judging misconduct that arose just days before the event. Musician Omar Harfouch publicly resigned from the selection committee, claiming an “impromptu jury” had pre-selected finalists.
This led to further turmoil, as soccer player Claude Makélélé and the president of the selection committee also withdrew from their positions. Faced with mounting controversies, Sapini and other contestants considered abandoning the competition altogether, questioning whether their dedication was misplaced.
“I can’t even describe it to you,” she recalled feeling. “I dedicated my life to this organization.” As she reflected on her journey, she expressed disappointment at how quickly it all unraveled.
The Miss Universe Organization has not yet responded to requests for comment. Many contestants, including Sapini, feel that their strenuous efforts and sacrifices culminated in an experience overshadowed by controversies and alleged misconduct.
“We put ourselves through hell,” she said, emphasizing the collective exhaustion and dedication of the competitors, only to feel as though their efforts didn’t yield the meaningful experience they had hoped for.
