MUO declares six nations’ delegates ineligible for Miss Universe 2026

JKN Universe LLC said in a statement issued by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) that delegates from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore would be ineligible to compete in the 75th Miss Universe pageant in 2026.

The statement maintained that Miss Universe Eastern Pte. Ltd. had no authority to grant, transfer or issue licences for the Miss Universe brand and that all legal authority rested with JKN Universe LLC.

It therefore regarded sponsorship agreements, franchise contracts and national licences issued by Miss Universe Eastern as invalid from the outset and legally non-binding.

JKN also rejected public statements by Nawat Itsaragrisil about the organisation’s finances, maintaining that the information was unaudited, unsupported by evidence and untrue.

It said the statements had damaged the brand’s reputation and credibility and that it was preparing to take civil and criminal legal action to the fullest extent.

For national franchise agreements specifically, the company said it would not recognise those described as having been made with or through Nawat or related entities because, it maintained, no lawful licensing agreement existed with JKN Universe LLC.

The statement listed Thailand’s contract as covering 2025 to 2029 and those of the other five countries as 2026 agreements.