"THE RECENT INCIDENT AT MISS UNIVERSE THAILAND , WHERE A DIRECTOR PUBLICLY INSULTED MISS MEXICO , HAS REIGNITED AN UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH ABOUT BEAUTY PAGEANTS"- DEBORAH PRIYA HENRY, FOR MISS MALAYSIA. (PHOTO).

 "The recent incident at Miss Universe Thailand — where a director publicly insulted Miss Mexico — has reignited an uncomfortable truth about beauty pageants: behind the glamour and goodwill, there are still troubling power dynamics at play.

As a former Miss Malaysia at Miss World and Miss Universe, I’ve experienced it firsthand. Pageants have always been about more than beauty — they’re platforms for advocacy, cultural exchange, and personal growth. But too often, the women wearing the crown are treated as commodities, expected to smile through discomfort and comply without question. And then comes the power play….. the relationships between sponsors, owners, and national directors can blur professional boundaries and create an environment where  young women have to navigate it all while keeping their poise. You learn quickly when to speak and when to stay silent.

When Miss Mexico stood her ground and refused to be publicly humiliated, she did something brave — she broke the unspoken rule of silence and that comes at a cost. Watching other contestants walk out in solidarity was necessary- we have to exercise agency to know we possess it. 

In a podcast conversation recently, I reflected on how pageants can still have relevance — when they uplift rather than objectify, when they amplify a woman’s voice rather than control it. But for that to happen, the industry must confront its own contradictions.

Maybe it’s time we ask: can beauty pageants truly empower women if they’re still structured around systems that reward obedience over authenticity? Can a space built on competition also foster solidarity and respect?

What remains true to me is, the women who participate are absolutely incredible but they are also young and still impressionable. Yet, a stage full of intelligent, ambitious young women should never be a playground for ego or exploitation- they are not pawns in a game. If pageants want to stay relevant, they must evolve — from platforms of performance and “inclusion” to platforms of true purpose."- Deborah Priya Henry, for Miss Malaysia.