A controversy surrounding the Miss Fiji beauty pageant has come to a head, with the initial winner, Manshika Prasad, being dethroned and later reinstated amidst allegations of rigging and conflict of interest.
The scandal began when Miss Universe Fiji (MUF) issued a press release stating that a “serious breach of principles” had occurred, and “revised results” would be made public shortly. Prasad was subsequently told she would not be traveling to Mexico to compete for the Miss Universe title in November, with runner-up Nadine Roberts taking her place.
However, an investigation by the BBC has revealed that Roberts is married to Jamie McIntyre, an Australian businessman with a history of fraudulent property investment schemes. McIntyre was found to have been in close communication with Riri Febriani, a judge on the panel and representative of Lux Projects, the company that bought the license to hold Miss Universe in Fiji.
The evidence says that McIntyre was involved in the judging controversy, with several judges receiving “cease and desist” emails from Lux Projects, which have been taken as tantamount to gagging orders.
Following an investigation by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), Prasad has been reinstated as the winner of the Miss Fiji 2024 title. The MUO has expressed extreme unhappiness with the events in Fiji and worked to reinstate Prasad as the island’s queen.
The scandal highlights the darker side of beauty pageants, where prestige, glory, and money can lead to controversy and conflict of interest.
