Miss Grand International 2024 Winner Rachel Gupta Alleges Harassment, Abuse by Pageant Organisers
Rachel Gupta (21), a Jalandhar-based model and recent winner of the Miss Grand International 2024 title, has made serious allegations against the pageant’s Thailand-based organisers, accusing them of harassment, body shaming, and breach of contract—claims that ultimately led her to relinquish her crown.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Rachel said, “I faced constant body shaming. Their representatives would pinch me and make demeaning comments about my physique, saying I had put on weight. They even posted zoomed-in images of my body on social media, which made me feel deeply humiliated and unsafe.”
The former beauty queen further alleged that she was blackmailed and emotionally abused during her tenure, leading to a sense of fear and loss of dignity. “I had to finally stand up for my self-respect,” she said, adding that she no longer felt secure in the environment created by the organisers.
Rachel also claimed that several terms of her contract were violated. According to her, she was promised a global ambassadorial role with tours to 20 countries, but was only taken to the Czech Republic. More distressingly, she said that after receiving her first month’s stipend, the payments stopped, forcing her to rely on her parents in Jalandhar for basic necessities, including food.
“There were clear expectations set in the contract, but nothing materialised. The lack of financial support made things worse,” she said.
In response to the organisers' counter-allegation that she breached contract terms by attending external events, Rachel said she had always communicated openly about such appearances. “I informed them in advance, and I have messages showing their consent. In fact, they even shared pictures from those events on their own social media handles, appreciating my presence,” she said.
Rachel also stated that she later discovered reports of similar mistreatment faced by past winners, raising broader concerns about the pageant’s conduct.
As of now, no official response has been issued by the Miss Grand International organisers regarding her allegations.
Leave A Comment