Miss Universe Judge Shares Which Contestant She Believes Should Have Won amid Allegations That Voting Was Rigged

Miss Universe Judge Questions Results Amid Rigged Voting Allegations

Natalie Glebova, a judge at the 2025 Miss Universe competition, raised concerns about the legitimacy of the pageant’s results. The controversy arose just hours after Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, was crowned Miss Universe 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. This win followed a tumultuous lead-up to the event, including a viral confrontation between Bosch and a pageant executive that led to some contestants walking out of a pre-pageant event.

The saga continued as former judge Omar Harfouch withdrew from his role, citing the discovery of an ‘impromptu jury’ tasked with selecting 30 finalists without his prior knowledge. Glebova stepped in to join the selection committee shortly after Harfouch’s resignation. Adding to the drama, other judges, including former soccer player Claude Makélélé, and Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, president of the Miss Universe selection committee, also stepped down.

However, Glebova’s appointment raised eyebrows due to her prior personal coaching of a contestant in the competition, Miss Canada Jaime VandenBerg. This connection led to speculation about potential biases in the judging process. Post-pageant, Glebova took to Instagram to express her reservations about the voting process, sharing a picture of Miss Thailand, Pravaneer Singh, and labeling her as “My Winner!”

Reflecting on her own Miss Universe journey in 2005, Glebova highlighted the presence of auditors from an accounting firm on stage to ensure transparency in the voting process. She advocated for reinstating these safeguards to uphold fairness in the competition. Her candid remarks hinted at her reluctance to participate as a judge in future editions without such oversight.

As the former Miss Universe Canada 2005, Glebova’s background lends weight to her critiques of the pageant. Following her pageant success, she transitioned into an author and coach, specializing in holistic pageant training. Notably, VandenBerg, a contestant she coached, made it to the top 30 in the 2025 Miss Universe competition. With photos of them together surfacing post-pageant, questions surrounding Glebova’s impartiality intensified.

Despite the unfolding controversy, Glebova, VandenBerg, and the Miss Universe Organization remained tight-lipped in response to inquiries from the media. The lack of official statements fuelled speculations about the internal dynamics of the competition and the role of judges in determining its outcome.

The Miss Universe 2025 saga underscores the intricacies and challenges of beauty pageants, where subjective judging criteria and personal connections can influence results. Glebova’s public stance serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and fairness in such high-profile competitions. As debates around the integrity of the judging process continue, the future of Miss Universe and its credibility hang in the balance. Stay tuned for further developments as the fallout from the 2025 competition reverberates through the pageant world.