Miss Universe President Raul Rocha has indicated that he is willing to sell the organisation following weeks of controversy and criticism surrounding the 2025 pageant. Rocha openly expressed his frustration and said he is tired of constant accusations and public scrutiny. The international beauty contest, held on November 21 in Bangkok, has been under the spotlight after multiple judges resigned and allegations of result manipulation surfaced.
In a Spanish interview conducted on November 24, Rocha shared that he is actively looking for someone who can take over the pageant. He described his situation as a relay race where he is ready to pass the baton to the next person if the right successor emerges. Rocha mentioned that ever since he acquired Miss Universe in January 2024, he has seen relentless backlash, making it difficult to run the organisation his way. According to him, everyone wants to influence decisions, including hiring and removal of people from the organisation.
The internal conflict intensified when former Miss Universe judge Omar Harfouch resigned abruptly on November 18, just days before the finale. Harfouch claimed that the pageant had already selected the top 30 contestants long before the preliminary round and stated that an emergency judging panel was formed to justify the outcome. He also alleged that Miss Mexico’s win was predetermined, calling her a fake winner, and accused Rocha of having business ties with the winner’s father.
Following Harfouch’s departure, footballer Claude Makelele and Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie also resigned from the selection committee. These resignations deepened concerns over the transparency of the competition. After the crowning of Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch as Miss Universe 2025, Harfouch reiterated his allegations, stating he had predicted the winner 24 hours before the finale.
Amid the storm, Miss Universe India Director Nikhil Anand stepped in with a public statement urging the global community to support Raul Rocha and the Miss Universe Organisation. He defended Fatima Bosch and reminded people that behind the title is a young woman dealing with global criticism while carrying the hopes of her country.
Even though Rocha has not taken formal steps toward selling the organisation yet, his comments indicate that the future of Miss Universe under his ownership remains uncertain as the controversy continues
