Rachel Gupta, the 21-year-old winner of Miss Grand International (MGI) 2024, has officially stepped down from her title, triggering a wave of controversy and public outcry.
Days after her resignation, screenshots surfaced allegedly showing MGI President Nawat Itsaragrisil body shaming Rachel and accusing her of undergoing cosmetic surgery without disclosure.
Allegations Against MGI President
Instagram stories from Nawat’s official account, shared by the page Indian Pageant and Glamour, show before-and-after images of Rachel Gupta with captions suggesting she lied about plastic surgery. One post read:
“She don’t talk and she don’t get authorised from organisation. When we ask her, she said she ate protein a lot. She confirmed no surgery at all.”
The posts have sparked backlash online, with many accusing the MGI organisation of promoting misogyny and violating the very values of empowerment they claim to represent.
Social Media Reacts: “Shocked at the Lack of Professionalism”
Outraged users flooded the comments section:
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“There should be no place for a person like him in an organisation like Miss Universe.”
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“How can a pageant organiser body shame a contestant they crowned?”
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“Exactly my point—people overlook anything for a crown, but this is unacceptable.”
Rachel Speaks Out
Rachel Gupta announced her resignation via an Instagram post on May 28, followed by a candid YouTube video on May 29, in which she exposed what she called a toxic work environment at Miss Grand International. She also alleged being pressured to sell cheap products on TikTok and described being treated like a “salesgirl,” undermining her role as a global beauty queen.
Call for Accountability
Pageant fans and women’s rights advocates are demanding greater accountability and reform in international beauty pageants. Several online petitions have already begun circulating to hold MGI leadership responsible and to prevent further mistreatment of titleholders.
