DISGRUNTLED fans did not hide their disappointment with the recent swimsuit show at the 2026 Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico, and took to social media to express their dismay.
An event that is part of the activities marking the international pageant’s 75th edition earned the ire of many loyal followers, rather than elicit excitement for the milestone celebration.
Fans were quick to point out the dismal staging of the “Beauty on the Beach” show at the Caribe Hilton Hotel in San Juan on Nov. 13 (14 in Manila). A single LED wall served as a backdrop, while a fabric was laid down on the beach for the ladies to walk on.
Filipino content creator Sherman Gamboa posted, “Hindi nakaka MU ang swimsuit show ah! Lalo na ang runway (The swimsuit show was not on MU level, huh! Especially the runway!) [crying emoji].”
Pageant page Critical Beauty posted a video showing an unnamed Miss Universe Organization (MUO) executive inspecting the “flimsy carpet” on the sand ahead of the presentation.
“They couldn’t afford to get plywood from Home Depot? Looks very glamorous, indeed [LOL emoji],” the caption read, adding that guests had to pay $100 each to watch the show.
Because of the inadequate setup, many of the candidates who paraded on the makeshift “runway” tripped, including perceived frontrunners Clara Vegas from Venezuela and Bea Millan-Windorski from the Philippines.
Cuban pageant content creator Luis Portelles also expressed his disappointment at the “unacceptable” show. “Horrible, terrible, from A to Z, from head to toe, this was a whole mess and such a disrespect to the delegates,” he said.
This year’s staging of the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico has attracted controversy even before the delegates set foot on the United States territory in the Caribbean, and the hosting was even on limbo for a time before the organizer confirmed that it would push through as planned.
And fans did not shy away from expressing their dismay at the events organized since the delegates started arriving earlier this month, particularly the welcome show and its shoddy stage and poor streaming quality.
The 2026 Miss Universe coronation night will be held at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan on Nov. 24 (25 in Manila). Controversial reigning queen Fatima Bosch from Mexico will crown her successor at the end of the competition. (Armin P. Adina © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
