Former Miss Grand International 2024 Rachel Gupta says she has relinquished her crown, alleging months of mistreatment by the pageant’s organiser, Miss Grand International Public Company Limited (MGI). Gupta, 21, who won the title in October 2024, detailed her decision in a May 28 YouTube video, claiming she was “harassed, manipulated, ignored and left to fend” for herself during seven months in Thailand.
Gupta’s allegations
Gupta says she was pressured to sign a one-sided contract, housed in a cramped hotel room without basic cooking facilities, and repeatedly body-shamed. She alleges a representative pinched her and pointed to areas where she “needed to lose weight.” She also claims she felt “stuck” in Thailand without security or support and reported $1,000 missing, saying the incident reinforced her belief that, beyond appearances, “they didn’t care if I lived or died.”
MGI’s response
Shortly after Gupta’s video, MGI announced on Instagram that it had revoked her title. In a statement issued June 6, the Thai company rejected her claims in full, calling them “false, misleading and defamatory,” and characterising her account as “emotional storytelling without evidence.” MGI added it “will not allow personal attacks or manipulative narratives” to undermine its executives or the organisation.
What’s next
The dispute leaves the crown in limbo and spotlights the pageant industry’s longstanding tensions over contracts, welfare and body standards. Neither Gupta nor MGI has announced legal action, but the sharp, competing narratives—voluntary resignation versus organisational revocation—suggest the fallout may continue as both sides seek to control the story.
