Miss Universe organisers are under fire after allegations surfaced that leadership blamed Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry for her frightening fall during the pageant’s preliminary round in Bangkok. Henry, who tumbled from the stage in full view of millions online, remains hospitalised in the ICU a week later, sparking outrage across the global pageant community.
According to PEOPLE, Miss Haiti Melissa Sapini has revealed troubling details about what happened immediately after the incident. She claims contestants were summoned to a meeting where a staff member allegedly suggested Henry simply “wasn’t paying attention,” before attempting to reassure the group that safety was the organisation’s top priority. Sapini described the moment as “really scary,” adding that the comment felt dismissive and insensitive given the severity of the fall.
While the Miss Universe Organisation has yet to comment, the host pageant body, Miss Grand International, defended its staging, insisting that Henry “missed her blocking” but was not formally blamed. The representative noted that the runway was “more than 5 metres wide” with no other reported accidents. Still, Sapini and several contestants described the wider pageant environment as emotionally draining, with the Haitian beauty queen recalling moments where “dreams and hopes” felt visibly crushed among participants.
Miss Universe owner Raul Rocha later tried to calm fears by sharing an update on Instagram, confirming that Henry had no broken bones and was receiving strong family support in hospital. The Miss Universe Jamaica team also confirmed that Henry’s sister, Dr Phylicia Henry-Samuels, and their mother are with her, adding that the model must remain in the ICU for at least seven days as doctors continue close monitoring and specialised care. For now, supporters worldwide wait anxiously for her recovery and clarity on the safety protocols that failed her.
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