Rachel Gupta, the first Indian to win the Miss Grand International title in 2024, has relinquished her crown, sparking a controversy with the Miss Grand International Organization (MGI). The reasons behind her decision are complex, with both Gupta and the organization offering conflicting accounts.
Gupta announced her resignation on May 28, 2025, citing a "toxic environment," "mistreatment," and "broken promises" as the primary reasons for her departure. In a social media post, she expressed her disappointment and stated that she could "no longer endure in silence." She also indicated her intention to release a full video detailing her experiences. In a 56-minute tell-all video, Gupta recounted her experiences over the past seven months, stating, "These have been the worst few months of my life. I have been at rock bottom," and adding that the last time she was truly happy was when she won in November 2024.
According to Gupta, she faced constant harassment, mental torture, and mistreatment on a systemic level within the organization. She claimed that the organization prioritizes using its queens until they are no longer deemed useful, a situation she could no longer be a part of. She further alleged that countries paid for votes in the form of donations, a practice she couldn't afford to participate in. Gupta also mentioned financial constraints, stating that she was only paid her monthly stipend for the first month (November) and not at all after that. She said that it was only after she won that she saw the financial arrangements in the contract.
She also shared that at the beginning of her reign, she was shown a penthouse and told that is where she was going to live, but was then moved into a cramped hotel room. Later, she was given the option of being moved into a dilapidated house that was one to two hours outside of the main city.
In response to Gupta's announcement, the Miss Grand International Organization released a statement claiming that Gupta's title had been terminated due to her failure to fulfill assigned duties, engagement in external projects without prior approval, and refusal to participate in a scheduled trip to Guatemala. The organization has requested that Gupta return the crown to the MGI Head Office within 30 days.
The organization also took issue with Gupta not being constantly ready from head to toe, including putting on makeup and doing her hair. The organization seems to look for contestants to have the 4 B's (Body, Beauty, Brain and Business), a complete skill set, all-around abilities and be able to show the potential of being a modern woman who is beautiful, skillful and smart to be an icon for women around the world.
The conflicting narratives have created a public relations challenge for both Gupta and the MGI organization. While Gupta claims she resigned due to a toxic environment and mistreatment, the organization asserts she was terminated for failing to meet her contractual obligations.
The situation also raises questions about the inner workings of the beauty pageant industry and the pressures faced by titleholders. Gupta's allegations of financial irregularities and a toxic environment could lead to increased scrutiny of the Miss Grand International Organization and its practices.
