BANGKOK, Sept 18 — Malaysia, Thailand and four other national Miss Universe franchises face possible exclusion from this year’s 75th Miss Universe pageant following a dispute over licensing rights to the beauty pageant brand.

Bangkok Post reported that a document issued in the name of the Miss Universe organisation said JKN Universe LLC did not recognise the franchise arrangements for Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore, while Khaosod English reported that the organisation said contestants from all six countries would not be eligible to compete in Miss Universe 2026.

The disputed franchises cover Miss Universe Thailand for the 2025-2029 period, while those for Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore concern 2026.

JKN Universe LLC said the arrangements were allegedly made by Nawat Itsaragrisil and/or entities linked to him through agreements that it does not recognise as legally valid, adding that the relevant parties had not entered into franchise or licensing agreements with JKN Universe LLC that granted them rights to the Miss Universe brand.

The document further stated that Miss Universe Eastern Pte Ltd was not authorised to grant, transfer or sublicense rights to operate under the Miss Universe brand, and described arrangements made through the company as “void ab initio”, meaning invalid from the outset.

JKN Universe LLC said it was the authority responsible for granting or approving rights connected to the Miss Universe brand and that arrangements made outside its framework did not create valid rights to use the brand.

The dispute could directly affect Thailand’s representative, Tharina Botes, with the organisation saying contestants representing the six countries would not be eligible for the 75th Miss Universe competition.

JKN Universe LLC also disputed recent claims concerning its financial position, saying information about its internal finances had been circulated publicly without being audited or independently verified, and alleging that false, misleading or incomplete material had appeared on social media.

The organisation said it reserved the right to take civil or criminal action over alleged false or misleading statements, as well as action concerning unauthorised use of its intellectual property and the Miss Universe brand.

Miss Universe Thailand, operated by Miss Grand International PCL, rejected the organisation’s position in a statement, saying it stood by the rights of the six affected countries and that MGI PCL was also a rights holder and/or authorised operator of Miss Universe licences.

The dispute comes ahead of the 75th Miss Universe pageant, with the competing claims over the validity of the national franchise arrangements yet to be resolved.