Miss Universe 2025 Judging Panel Faces Resignations Amid Controversies

The Miss Universe pageant has a tradition of inviting distinguished guests to serve as judges, featuring notable figures like Aerosmith’s lead vocalist Steven Tyler and supermodel Adriana Lima in past editions. For the upcoming 2025 event, the committee extended an invitation to former Chelsea footballer Claude Makelele, who was commended for his ‘excellence and integrity’ upon his selection.

Scheduled to take place in Thailand this Friday, the Miss Universe winner will receive an annual salary of £190,000 during their reign, along with access to a luxurious New York apartment. Additionally, all international expenses are covered for the titleholder, who last year was Denmark’s Victoria Theilvig.

However, in the lead-up to this prestigious event, Makelele has opted to withdraw from the judging panel, citing ‘unforeseen personal circumstances.’

In an official announcement on his Instagram account, Makelele expressed, “It is with regret that I must announce that I won’t be able to attend the Miss Universe 2025 event due to unforeseen personal reasons. This was a difficult decision, as I hold Miss Universe in the highest regard. The platform represents empowerment, diversity, and excellence—values I have always championed throughout my career. I sincerely apologize to the organization, the contestants, and everyone involved, and I hope to be able to contribute in the future under better circumstances. Thank you for your understanding and support.”

Makelele is not the first high-profile judge to resign in recent days; Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French musician, also withdrew, claiming the selection process was rigged. Harfouch alleged on social media that an ‘impromptu jury’ had already pre-selected finalists before the official competition.

In his resignation statement, Harfouch declared, “I, Omar Harfouch, resigning member of Miss Universe International Jury, wish to inform the public that I have consulted with a leading law firm in New York regarding a potential formal complaint against the Miss Universe Organization. The issues under review include, but are not limited to, fraud, abuse of power, corruption, deception, breach of contract, conflict of interest, and emotional and reputational damages. It has come to light that a secret and illegitimate vote was held to determine the Top 30 contestants before the official jury’s arrival. This vote involved individuals not recognized as part of the judging panel, including at least one person with a personal romantic relationship with a contestant, which constitutes a serious conflict of interest and may qualify as collusion and manipulation of an international competition.”

These resignations follow a recent incident where multiple contestants left a pre-pageant event due to comments made by a Thai official. While Makelele did not specify the reasons for his withdrawal from the judges’ panel, he enjoyed a successful playing career, transitioning from Spain to England and back to France before retiring in 2011.

During his career, Makelele secured numerous titles, including La Liga, the Premier League, and the Champions League. He also represented France as a runner-up in the 2006 World Cup, a tournament famously marked by Zinedine Zidane’s iconic headbutt.

In contrast, Makelele’s managerial career has not reached the same heights, with brief stints at Bastia and Asteras Tripolis, as well as an 18-month tenure as the head coach of Eupen.