The ongoing Miss Grand International 2024 pageant has hit a major hurdle, with a sudden announcement on October 6 that Cambodia will no longer host the event.

A conflict between the Miss Grand International (MGI) organization and Miss Grand Cambodia led both parties to issue statements detailing their disagreements, leaving fans surprised by the breakdown of cooperation, just days into the competition in Cambodia.

The official statement from Miss Grand Cambodia read, “We deeply regret to announce that Miss Grand Cambodia will no longer continue our license with Miss Grand International due to a lack of respect and cooperation with Cambodia as the host nation.”

Miss Grand International responded by stating, “We regret to announce that Cambodia will no longer host Miss Grand International 2024, as the organizers were unable to meet the service standards required by Miss Grand International (MGI).”

Despite the fallout, Miss Grand International assured that the competition will proceed as planned, with contestants moving to Thailand from October 7 to continue their schedule.

Following the announcement, Miss Grand Cambodia held a livestream explaining the situation. According to the Cambodian team, they had meticulously planned the venues and schedules ahead of the pageant.

However, Nawat Itsaragrisil, President of MGI, repeatedly altered the requirements based on personal preferences, forcing the Cambodian organizers to adjust accordingly.

One notable incident was a boat tour, which wasn’t part of the original plan. Nevertheless, the Cambodian team made efforts to accommodate the request. Unfortunately, rain disrupted the event, leading the organizers to pack up equipment for safety.

When Nawat arrived and saw the preparations incomplete, he was reportedly furious. Despite explanations from the Cambodian side about the weather, he refused to accept the reasoning.

The incident has drawn the attention of fans, who are closely following the developments in this now fractured partnership.

Miss Grand International 2024 marks the 12th edition of the pageant, with the final set for October 25, 2024. The competition features 75 contestants from various countries and regions.

Representing Vietnam at Miss Grand International 2024 is Vo Le Que Anh, Miss Grand Vietnam 2024. Born in 2001 in Quang Nam, she was a runner-up at the Hue University pageant in 2020, reached the top 40 in Miss Vietnam 2020, and was crowned 1st runner-up at Miss Tourism Da Nang 2022.

Que Anh recently graduated with a degree in Korean Language and Culture from Hue University, earning a B2 - CEFR Korean language certification, and participated in cultural exchange activities with the Korean Cultural Research Institute and Hue City in 2023.

The reigning Miss Grand International, Luciana Fuster from Peru, will crown her successor during the final night of the competition.

This year’s event also marks the debut of Greenland and the return of several countries, including Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire (last seen in 2014), New Zealand, Norway, and Tanzania (2018), Macau (2019), Armenia (2021), and Bangladesh, China, Curaçao, Pakistan, and Portugal (2022).

Cambodia withdraws from Miss Grand International 2024

In a shocking announcement on the afternoon of October 7, Miss Grand Cambodia, Sotheary By, declared her withdrawal from the Miss Grand International 2024 pageant, stating she will not travel to Thailand with the other contestants.

Sotheary revealed that several behind-the-scenes issues contributed to her decision and expressed gratitude for Cambodia's efforts in hosting and welcoming the contestants. She hopes that everyone will recognize the hard work put into the event.

Sotheary expressed her joy in meeting the incredible contestants from all over the world and sent her love to them all. Despite her early exit, she wished the remaining contestants the best of luck on their journey and hoped they achieve success in their quest for the crown.

Minh Phi