Rachel Gupta from India made history by winning the Miss Grand International title, becoming the 12th holder of the crown and the first winner from India. Her triumph, however, is being overshadowed by an unexpected scene created by team Myanmar on and off the stage, drawing significant media attention.
On social media, videos from the event began circulating, showing a tense moment involving Myanmar’s second runner-up Thae Su Nyein. As Thae Su Nyein was announced as the second runner-up, Myanmar’s national director Htoo Ant Lwin walked onto the stage and forcefully removed her crown and sash. The visibly distressed Nyein was escorted away from the stage, reportedly crying over the ordeal. Soon afterward, Lwin was seen confronting a person recording the incident, which added further tension to the scene.
Afterward, Lwin took to social media, posting in a tone that initially seemed defiant. In a message that loosely translated to “Everything is fine. I will go live shortly,” Lwin hinted that he would clarify his position. During a live session soon after, he leveled several allegations against the Miss Grand International organization, claiming that the competition’s results were unfair to Nyein and declaring that Myanmar would not be participating in future pageants. In a later post, he adopted a calmer stance, asking, “Will you re-sign the contract?” followed by laughing emoticons, further fueling curiosity and concern from followers, who flooded the comments with messages of support and questions about his well-being.
As of now, the Miss Grand International organizers have not responded to Lwin’s accusations or commented on the Myanmar team’s exit. Despite the controversy, Gupta’s victory remained the highlight of the night for many fans and supporters in India.
“WE DID IT! We won the first Golden Crown in Indian history. HAR MAIDAN FATEH 🇮🇳,” Rachel Gupta expressed on Instagram, sharing clips of her crowning moment. “Thank you so much to everyone who believed in me! I promise, I will not let you down. I vow to be a Queen whose reign you’ll remember forever! With all my love,” she added, celebrating her achievement with gratitude toward her supporters.
The first runner-up of the pageant was CJ Opiaza from the Philippines, who, along with other contestants, witnessed the unexpected Myanmar incident unfold. The situation has sparked conversations across social media, leaving many speculating about the allegations and the future of Myanmar’s involvement in the pageant.
What are your thoughts on the controversy stirred by team Myanmar during the Miss Grand International finale?