Miss Universe owner JKN Universe bars contestants from six Southeast Asian countries from 2026 pageant

On September 18, 2026, JKN Universe LLC, owner of the Miss Universe brand, announced that contestants from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore would be barred from the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico. The company claimed franchise agreements for these countries were unauthorized. Miss Universe Eastern, run by Thai businessman Nawat Itsaragrisil, rejected the decision, insisting the contestants would compete. National pageants in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore are proceeding, while Thailand has already crowned its representative. The dispute remains unresolved, leaving contestants' participation uncertain.