The Miss Universe Fiji beauty pageant, held at Fiji’s Pearl Resort & Spa, recently became the center of a controversy involving claims of vote rigging, sudden disqualifications, and a behind-the-scenes power struggle. The drama unfolded when Manshika Prasad, a 24-year-old MBA student, was crowned Miss Fiji, only for the decision to be overturned days later.
Following her win, Miss Universe Fiji (MUF) released a statement alleging a “serious breach of principles,” announcing that the revised winner would be Nadine Roberts, the runner-up. Ms. Prasad was abruptly informed she would not be representing Fiji in the Miss Universe contest in Mexico, leaving her devastated. According to MUF, Ms. Prasad had been unfairly chosen in a rigged vote that supposedly favored her due to financial benefits for the event’s management.
The pageant’s judges, however, were confused and outraged by the decision. Melissa White, one of the judges, described how smoothly the competition had run, with Ms. Prasad emerging as the clear winner based on her performance, demeanor, and overall presentation. Another judge, Jennifer Chan, confirmed that the majority of the panel had voted for Ms. Prasad, and they were unaware of any issues during the event.
However, suspicions arose when it was revealed that a representative from Lux Projects, Riri Febriani, who was also on the judging panel, was in contact with someone named “Jamie,” raising questions about outside interference. Lux Projects, the company that purchased the Miss Universe license for Fiji, later claimed they should have had an additional vote, which would have resulted in a tie, and gave them the deciding vote—thus changing the winner to Ms. Roberts.
The unexpected twist has left many questioning the fairness and transparency of the process, with Ms. Prasad taking a break from the public eye and many in the pageant community calling for further clarification.