Miss Grand International president discloses $3.5M revenue from contestant voting

By Linh Le November 1, 2024 | 12:32 am PT

Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of Miss Grand International (MGI), announced that this year’s contestant voting brought in US$3.5 million, eliminating the need to sell the crown for US$25,000.

Miss Grand International president Nawat Itsaragrisil (L) and Miss Grand Thailand 2022 Engfa Waraha. Photo from Itsaragrisil's Instagram

According to Tien Phong Newspaper, Itsaragrisil, 51, disclosed this information during a press conference on Oct. 27. He added that the US$25,000 sum was insignificant compared to the voting revenue, so there was no need to sell the title.

Earlier, Htoo Ant Lwin, the 29-year-old national director of Myanmar for the MGI pageant, accused Itsaragrisil of taking US$25,000 from the Indonesian pageant official in exchange for a crown, as reported by The Straits Times.

Tensions between Itsaragrisil and Myanmar heightened during this year’s MGI pageant when the country’s 17-year-old representative Thae Su Nyein announced on Instagram Live on Oct. 27 that she would be returning her crown after being awarded second runner-up the previous night. According to ABS-CBN News, Thae said she felt "robbed" for not winning two special awards: Best in National Costume and Country’s Power of the Year.

The National Costume award went to contestants from Brazil, Ecuador, and Honduras, while Thailand was awarded Country’s Power of the Year.

On Oct. 28, MGI announced that it had withdrawn Thae’s title, citing her "inappropriate behavior." Itsaragrisil also accused Htoo of coercing Thae to give up her title.

Founded in 2013 by Itsaragrisil, a Thai television host and producer, MGI focuses on humanitarian causes. Titleholders spend their reigning year as the organization’s spokesperson, engaging in charity events supporting these campaigns.

Contestants are chosen by franchise holders in their countries or territories through national contests, internal casting, or direct selection.