Miss Universe Argentina Stripped of Her Title After Implying Possible Fraud in the Pageant
The Argentine representative expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the competition.
Controversy continues to swirl around the 2024 Miss Universe pageants months after the event.
The organization has announced the removal of another contestant following public statements from her that raised concerns about irregularities in the pageant.
What Miss Argentina said
Argentine contestant Magali Benejam, who secured a spot in the top 12 at the November 2024 pageant in Mexico, has been stripped of her title after making public comments questioning the contest's legitimacy.
In an interview with content creator King Lucho, Benejam expressed dissatisfaction with the selection process, criticized the behavior of some contestants, and suggested that results may have been manipulated.
Benejam claimed that during the selection of the Top 5 contestants, judges appeared visibly surprised at the result, fueling her belief that something suspicious occurred. "The judges started looking at each other as if to say, 'This isn't what we chose,'" she said.
She also revealed that Denmark's representative had at least three security guards with her in the final days of the competition, adding to speculation about her victory.
According to Benejam, people even told her that the outcome had been decided 10 days prior, although she was unaware of it at the time.
Benejam also spoke about Miss Dominican Republic, Celinee Santos. She claimed Santos repeatedly displayed questionable behavior, including interrupting her in group videos and cutting in line during an event.
The Miss Universe Organization responds
The Miss Universe organization responded swiftly. In an official statement, they announced Benejam's dismissal after "a thorough review," citing that her remarks contradicted the pageant's core values of "celebrating diversity, promoting inclusion, and respecting all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, beliefs, or experiences."
"The words and actions of our representatives must reflect these unwavering principles to which all participants commit upon joining the Miss Universe community.
The decision comes after careful consideration and aligns with our commitment to uphold the highest standards of personal and professional conduct. We want to emphasize that this action is taken to protect the integrity of the organization and the opportunities it provides to women around the world.We thank the public for their understanding and continued support as we work to ensure that the Miss Universe Organization remains an example of excellence and social responsibility.
Miss Universe Organization"
Originally published in The Latin Times
