The Miss Universe Fiji beauty pageant is facing controversy over its recent results. In early September, 24-year-old Manshika Prasad was crowned Miss Fiji. But just days later, her title was taken away and given to runner-up Nadine Roberts, a property developer from Sydney.
Miss Universe Fiji (MUF) announced there was a “serious breach of principles” and said the results would be revised. Some judges were upset about this change because Prasad had won with four out of seven votes from the panel. Judge Jennifer Chan said Prasad was clearly the winner based on her performance and interactions.
In 2024, the MUF pageant was licensed to a property firm called Lux Projects. After the crowning, Lux Projects claimed they should have had a vote, which was not counted. They said if they had voted, it would have tied the results and given Roberts the win. Chan stated that she was not informed about any extra judge.
Investigations revealed that Lux Projects was linked to Jamie McIntyre, who is married to Roberts. McIntyre’s team called the claims a “conspiracy theory” but admitted he gave advice to the license holder. Some judges and contestants have received “cease and desist” orders from Lux Projects.
Manshika Prasad has now been re-crowned as Miss Fiji 2024. She shared on social media that it has been an “incredible journey.”
