In a dramatic turn of events shaking the pageant world, Rachel Gupta, who was crowned Miss Grand International 2024, has stepped down from her title while leveling explosive allegations against the organization behind the glitzy global competition.
Her resignation comes just days after the Miss Grand International (MGI) organization officially announced the revocation of her title — citing negligence of duties and breach of contract.
This unfolding Miss Grand International controversy mirrors recent tensions in the pageant scene, following Miss England’s withdrawal from the Miss World event in Hyderabad due to alleged mistreatment. Now, Rachel Gupta's allegations have added fuel to the fire, bringing fresh scrutiny to how international beauty pageants treat their contestants behind the curtain.
Rachel took to YouTube with an emotional video detailing her painful seven-month journey with the MGI organization. Tearfully, she revealed she was subjected to constant harassment, body-shaming, and mental stress. Her stay in Thailand — which was supposed to be glamorous — was, according to her, anything but.
"I was made to stay in a cramped hotel room without proper food, transport, or even basic kitchen utensils. I wasn’t provided a local phone or vehicle, and had to rely on my parents for daily expenses," Rachel said. She alleged that even the promised monthly compensation never arrived, and she was forced to depend on her family to survive.
One of her most shocking claims was the physical body-shaming she endured. "A representative from the organization pinched areas of my body and told me to lose fat from there," she said. "The smiles you see on red carpets are not real — there's a toxic reality behind the glam."
She further stated that the crown brought her depression rather than joy. “I was last happy the night I won. Everything after that spiraled into loneliness and emotional breakdowns. It took immense courage to let go of something I fought so hard for.”
In response to Rachel’s accusations, the Miss Grand International organization issued a detailed statement denying her claims. The statement, shared via email and social media, included email screenshots and even a legal notice from Rachel to support their version of events.
According to MGI, Rachel failed to fulfill her duties as the reigning queen, engaged in unauthorized external projects, and even skipped an official tour to Guatemala without approval. One of the most serious allegations by the organization was that Rachel used a sponsor hospital in Thailand to arrange free surgeries for her mother and sister — without informing MGI.
On her claim that $1,000 was stolen during her stay, MGI responded that no evidence was provided, and suggested the accusation was fabricated to secure extra funds. They also stated that she rejected cash payments and insisted on bank transfers, but refused to pay the required international transfer fees.
While Rachel insists her goal is to speak up for other young women with similar dreams, the Miss Grand International controversy has quickly snowballed into a heated dispute, with both sides accusing each other of manipulation, dishonesty, and contractual misconduct.
Rachel claims she was misled about the prize money timeline and felt exploited by an organization more concerned with appearances than ethics. On the other hand, MGI asserts that Rachel was unprofessional, failed her commitments, and misused sponsorships for personal gain.
At the center of this storm is a larger conversation about how international pageants are run — and whether contestants are treated as ambassadors or simply as assets. As the dust settles, this controversy might force global pageants to rethink their practices and priorities.
