MGI President Nawat Itsaragrisil asserts his competition is ‘fair’

Miss Grand International president Nawat Itsaragrisil (R) and Miss Grand International 2024's runner-up CJ Opiaza. Photo fro Itsaragrisil's Instagram

The Inquirer reported that at the event, held at Lime Resort Manila in Pasay City, Itsaragrisil, 59, stressed that the competition’s fairness was apparent, noting that the Thai delegate, although a contestant representing the host country, only made it to the Top 20 by fan votes and did not advance further.

Discussing the performance of the Philippines’s contestant, he disclosed that Miss Grand Philippines National Director Arnold Vegafria was recommended to begin his search early, which did not happen, leading to Opiaza having merely three days to prepare for her flight after her national pageant win.

Opiaza backed him up, reassuring Filipino fans and international pageant followers about the competition’s fairness. She asserted that MGI is thoroughly just and not manipulated as some may suggest.

"It definitely is not [a cooking show]," she declared. "That is one of the biggest misconceptions that we always say. And I want to correct it. MGI (Miss Grand International) is more than just what you think it is. they select the most high-caliber queens."

She further commended the professionalism of MGI’s selection procedure and how the organization values the wellbeing of its participants, arranging daily events focused on relaxation and fun, enabling the contestants to show their true selves beyond the competitive environment. She also shared positive interactions with fellow contestants at the event.

"The queens that I worked with are really setting a different standard. They’re not just beauty queens, they’re not just a simple human there," she stated. "They’re bringing different flavors, bringing different cultures and traditions, bringing different characters, values and disciplines."

Filipino pageant enthusiasts previously expressed their displeasure with MGI, labeling the contest a "cooking show" when the Philippines’ candidates did not perform as well as expected.

MGI, established in 2013 by Itsaragrisil, a Thai TV host and producer, is noted for its emphasis on humanitarian efforts. Throughout their term, winners advocate for charitable causes. Contestants are selected via national contests, internal casting, or direct appointments by franchise holders in their respective countries or territories.

This year’s competition faced several challenges, with India, Honduras, and Indonesia declaring their discontinuation of the MGI licenses in their countries.

Moreover, on Oct. 26, during the Miss Grand International contest’s final night, Myanmar’s contestant Thae Su Nyein, 17, was named second runner-up, following the contestants from the Philippines and India, who secured the first runner-up and winner spots respectively. She departed the event visibly distressed with her team soon after the announcement and opted out of the scheduled activities for the top five finalists.

ABS-CBN News reported that in an Instagram live stream the following day, Thae announced her decision to return her crown, claiming she was unjustly overlooked for two special awards: Best in National Costume and Country’s Power of the Year. The awards for Best National Costume were given to contestants from Brazil, Ecuador, and Honduras, while Country’s Power of the Year went to Thailand.

On Oct. 28, the MGI organization revealed on its Facebook page that Thae was stripped of her title due to "inappropriate behavior." Itsaragrisil later accused Htoo Ant Lwin, the former national director for Miss Grand Myanmar, of pressuring Thae to give up her title.

Concurrently, Htoo claimed that Itsaragrisil accepted a bribe of US$25,000 from an Indonesian pageant official for a crown, a report by The Straits Times noted. Itsaragrisil has refuted the allegation and has warned of legal action unless Htoo, aged 29, furnishes proof.