The Miss Universe competition in Thailand has taken an unexpected turn for several contestants. A group of models has reported suffering from food poisoning, allegedly after consuming local Thai dishes.
The health issues have affected representatives from multiple nations. These include Honduras (Alejandra Fuentes), Panama (Mirna Caballini), Estonia (Brigitta Schaback), Guyana (Chandini Baljor), Uruguay (Valeria Baladan), and Hungary (Kincső Dezsényi). Reports also suggest Peru’s Karla Bacigalupo and Mexico’s Fátima Bosch were impacted.
Missologist Jens Castro, a prominent online influencer, was among the first to detail the affected individuals and share their social media posts.
Some contestants required professional medical intervention, causing them to miss scheduled activities.
Panama’s Mirna Caballini reassured her followers on Instagram. “Yesterday I was a bit unwell due to mild food poisoning, but thank God I feel much better today,” she wrote. Competition doctors advised her to get complete rest.
Miss Honduras also confirmed she was out of activities due to her health. She expressed hope for a swift recovery to rejoin the competition.
Uruguay’s Valeria Baladan used her social media to caution fellow contestants and fans. “We have to be careful with what we eat in countries so different from ours,” she stated.
The situation extended beyond Latin American representatives. Miss Estonia posted a photo showing a thermometer reading 37.95°C, adding, “Halfway through Miss Universe with food poisoning.”
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has not issued an official statement. However, contestants confirm they have received constant support and immediate medical attention from the event’s medical team.
This health scare adds to previous controversies surrounding the event. Mexico’s Fátima Bosch was recently involved in a legal dispute with Thai executive Nawat Itsaragrisil.
Despite the setbacks, the affected models remain focused on their recovery. They aim to return to the stage and represent their countries at the gala on November 21 at the Impact Arena in Pak Kret.