Reigning Miss Universe Fatima Bosch from Mexico. Photo: Organizing Committee
A verified Miss Universe Facebook page announced on Thursday evening that Vietnam would host the 76th edition of the pageant in 2027.
The announcement said the selection was made by Legacy Holding Group, S.A. de C.V., identified as 'MU East' under the Master Hemisphere Agreement.
However, MUO subsequently issued an announcement on its official website denying that Vietnam had been selected to host the 2027 competition.
A screenshot of the Miss Universe Organization’s official website stating that Vietnam has not been designated as the host country for the 2027 Miss Universe competition. Photo: Screenshot from the Miss Universe Organization’s website
It said the official host country would be announced during the final of the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico, scheduled for November 24.
MUO also said 'MU East' did not exist as an organization, division, affiliate or authorized representative of the organization, and that the earlier announcement had no official effect.
It added that the missuniverse.com domain and other social media accounts historically associated with the organization were under the unauthorized control of individuals outside its legitimate administration.
It added that official announcements were only issued through authorized representatives and published exclusively on missuniverseorg.com and its official Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube accounts.
Nawat Itsaragrisil, CEO of Miss Universe Eastern Pte. Ltd., and Southeast Asian franchise partners are embroiled in a dispute with JKN Universe LLC, the owner of the Miss Universe brand's licensing rights, over licensing rights to the Miss Universe brand. Photo: Nawat Itsaragrisil's Facebook account
The dispute follows an announcement by JKN Universe LLC, the owner of the Miss Universe brand's licensing rights, that representatives from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, and Singapore were ineligible to compete in Miss Universe 2026.
However, Vietnam’s participation has yet to be definitively clarified amid an ongoing dispute over licensing rights to the pageant.
JKN Universe LLC said Miss Universe Eastern Pte. Ltd., led by Nawat Itsaragrisil, was not licensed or authorized to operate the Miss Universe brand in any country or territory, nor could it issue or transfer licenses for the brand.
It also said franchise agreements signed through Nawat Itsaragrisil lacked valid authorization from the brand's rights holder.
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