Vietnam beauty queen among six barred from Miss Universe 2026 amid rights row
Six Southeast Asian countries have been barred from the Miss Universe 2026 competition due to a legal franchise dispute between the Miss Universe Organization and MU East. The conflict centers on conflicting claims of authority over regional franchise rights and the eligibility of national representatives.
Why it matters
This dispute highlights the complexities of international brand licensing and the potential for corporate legal battles to disrupt major global cultural events.
Six Southeast Asian countries caught in franchise dispute
Miss Grand International (MGI), headed by Thai businessman Nawat Itsaragrisil, has confirmed that representatives from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Laos will not participate in the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico this November.
The organization said it could no longer guarantee the contestants' standing, dignity, safety or equal treatment at the international event.
The decision follows a dispute over franchise rights between the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), its operating entity JKN Universe LLC, and Miss Universe Eastern Pte. Ltd. (MU East), a company associated with Nawat.
The disagreement became public in September, when JKN challenged the validity of franchise agreements covering the six Southeast Asian countries and maintained that their representatives were not eligible to compete.
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