Guyana banned from Miss Universe Pageant for next 2 years

April 23, 2018

After being mired in controversy following the crowning of Rafeiya Husain as the local representative to compete for the Miss Universe 2017 crown, Guyana has now been reportedly banned from participating in the international pageant for the next two years.
A committee member revealed that after complaints were filed which indicated that the Director of the Miss Universe organisation in Guyana ran an illegitimate competition, an investigation was launched by the pageant’s head organisation.
Based on findings of results tampering, etc, Director Jyoti Hardat has now been allegedly fired and Guyana given the ban.
Guyana Times attempted several times to contact Hardat in New York for a response and confirmation, but the calls went unanswered and were not returned.
The organisation will reportedly be issuing a press statement next week.
After Husain’s crowning at York College Performing Arts Center in New York, the 15 other delegates reported that the pageant was rigged, and Husain was hand-picked as the winner even though the crown was not rightfully hers.
The young women alleged mistreatment, sexual harassment, and disrespect by the organisation.
Some took to social media and told tales of what occurred during their Miss Universe journey.
Two contestants who spoke out were Altea Kelly and Sharisse Victor.
According to Kelly, Hardat introduced her to “a potential sponsor” who later made sexual advances towards her.
A number of committee members who confirmed the accusations by the delegate also immediately resigned.
The pageant received many negative views after Husain, who was the 2016 pageant’s runner-up, entered to compete despite the fact that the pageant contract specifically asked that the delegates not be a current title holder or first runner-up in any national pageant.
Section One, Sub-section ‘H’ of the delegates’ contract reads: “I represent and warrant that I have never been a contestant or delegate in a previous Miss Universe Pageant. I am not the current title holder or first runner-up in any national pageant or competition.”
Delegates complained of her being given special treatment throughout the journey and privileges.
Husain, however, did not place in the international pageant despite the high hopes of some Guyanese.
She took to social media some time after the pageant to reveal that she got little to no support from Guyana during her time in the international pageant.

https://guyanatimesgy.com/guyana-banned-from-miss-universe-pageant-for-next-2-years/