Vietnam's Miss Universe 2026 eligibility remains unresolved

According to Puerto Rican newspaper El Vocero in a report published in mid-October, Day said the eligibility of contestants from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore to compete in Miss Universe 2026 had yet to be resolved.

Miss Universe CEO addresses eligibility of 6 Southeast Asian representatives

Responding to a statement by Nawat Itsaragrisil, CEO of Miss Universe Eastern Pte. Ltd., Day said decisions concerning the Miss Universe pageant fall under the authority of the Miss Universe Organization, which he leads.

He cited decisions concerning contestants, contracts for host venues and show production as matters under the organization's authority.

Day confirmed that the status of the six Southeast Asian representatives remained unchanged, meaning Nguyen Quynh Anh of Vietnam and contestants from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos and Singapore remained ineligible for Miss Universe 2026.

However, Day did not specify what would happen if the contestants traveled to Puerto Rico to attend the pageant.

He said the Miss Universe Organization would handle cases involving officially registered contestants in accordance with its established procedures.

Quynh Anh's eligibility for Miss Universe 2026 remains uncertain

The announcement that representatives from six Southeast Asian countries would not be eligible to compete in Miss Universe 2026 previously drew attention from the international beauty pageant community.

The controversy has emerged amid disagreements over the rights to organize, distribute and manage the pageant in certain markets.

Nawat Itsaragrisil is among the figures mentioned in announcements related to the dispute.

In his interview with El Vocero, Day did not explain the grounds for the decision concerning each country.

Instead, he reiterated the authority of the Miss Universe Organization and said the current status of the six representatives remained unchanged.

The issue has left Quynh Anh's participation in Miss Universe 2026 uncertain.

Unless an official change is announced, Quynh Anh, Miss Universe Vietnam 2026, has yet to secure eligibility to compete in this year's international pageant.

The Miss Universe 2026 final is scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico on November 24.

Contestants are expected to begin arriving in Puerto Rico on November 8.