Hold onto your tiaras, folks -- Miss Universe 2025 is drowning in drama before the crown even touches a head.

Just days before the glittering pageant in Thailand, two judges walked away from the panel, one alleging a shady backroom deal to pre-pick finalists, while the organization scrambles to douse the flames of controversy, as the BBC reports.

This mess kicked off earlier this month when Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly berated Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, for not posting promotional content on social media during a pre-event. Viral videos captured Ms. Bosch and other contestants storming out, shouting at Nawat in protest. The incident sparked outrage, and Nawat later claimed his words were taken out of context.

Early Controversy Sparks Public Backlash

The Miss Universe Organisation didn’t take kindly to Nawat’s outburst, issuing a sharp reprimand of his conduct. In a move to regain control, executives sent a team of international executives to oversee the event’s operations. It’s a classic case of too little, too late, when the spotlight’s already on bad behavior instead of beauty.

Then came the real bombshell -- two judges, Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch and French football manager Claude Makélélé, resigned mere days before the Friday event. Harfouch took to Instagram to announce his exit, dropping a grenade of accusations about the judging process. Makélélé followed suit hours later, citing “unforeseen personal reasons” on the same platform.

Harfouch didn’t hold back, claiming, “An impromptu jury has been formed to select 30 finalists from among the 136 participating countries, without the presence of any of the real [eight] members of the jury, including me.” Now, isn’t that a plot twist? If true, it smells like the kind of insider dealing that turns a competition into a charade, undermining every contestant’s hard work.

Allegations of Unofficial Jury Surface

Harfouch doubled down, alleging this mysterious group included “individuals with a significant potential conflict of interest due to some personal relationships with some of the Miss Universe contestants.” That’s a polite way of saying the fix might be in, and it’s hard not to wonder if merit is taking a backseat to favoritism. He admitted to learning of this alleged setup through social media, though details on how it would override the official panel remain murky.

The Miss Universe Organisation fired back on Tuesday, denying any unauthorized group had a hand in evaluating contestants or picking finalists. They suggested Harfouch might have mixed up the situation with their Beyond the Crown program, a social impact initiative unrelated to the main contest. Announced on Monday, Beyond the Crown is apparently just a feel-good side project, not a secret cabal.

Still, the organization accused Harfouch of misrepresenting the initiative with his claims. It’s a tidy explanation, but when trust is already shaky, their denial sounds like damage control rather than a full clearing of the air. Pageant fans deserve more than a press release to restore confidence.

Second Judge Exits Under Mysterious Circumstances

Meanwhile, Makélélé’s resignation added fuel to the fire, though his Instagram post was more diplomatic. He called it a “difficult decision” but offered no specifics beyond personal reasons. It’s tough not to speculate if he caught wind of the same backstage whispers that drove Harfouch out.

The timing of both exits -- hours apart and so close to the event -- raises eyebrows. If this is just a coincidence, it’s the kind Hollywood couldn’t script. The pageant world thrives on drama, but not the kind that makes judges bolt.

Let’s be real: pageants like Miss Universe are supposed to celebrate talent, grace, and diversity, not become battlegrounds for allegations of unfair play. When judges quit and point fingers at rigged processes, it’s not just a PR headache -- it erodes the very values these events claim to uphold. Conservatives often balk at progressive overreach, but fairness in competition is a principle everyone should rally behind.

Group Struggles to Restore Trust

The Miss Universe Organisation now faces a steep climb to salvage its reputation before the Thailand event. Dispatching executives to take the reins is a start, but they’ll need more than a stern memo to convince the public that all is above board. Transparency, not deflection, is the only way to crown a winner without a cloud of doubt.

This fiasco is a reminder that even glitzy spectacles aren’t immune to the kind of behind-the-scenes meddling that frustrates everyday folks.

When hard-working contestants risk being sidelined by alleged favoritism, it’s not just a pageant problem -- it’s a betrayal of meritocracy, a value worth defending against any agenda. Let’s hope the crown goes to the most deserving, not the best connected.