Miss Grand International claps back at Indian licensee

Miss Grand International’s Nawat Itsaragrisil and 2024 winner Rachel Gupta. Image from MGI’s Facebook page.

The Miss Grand International Organization (MGI) has aired its side on its former Indian licensee‘s recent decision to part ways with the global pageant organizer.

In a statement posted on social media on Thursday, Nov. 21, MGI said that it made the decision to sever ties with Glamanand Supermodel India, organizer of the Miss Grand India pageant, citing violations to the partnership agreement between the two entities.

Indian queen Rachel Gupta posted the South Asian country’s first Miss Grand International victory in the most recent staging of the global tilt held in Thailand last month.

The international pageant organization said Glamanand has been remiss in its license fee remittances, “with final payments made only a month before the final event.”

Another violation that MGI cited was the appointment of the first runner-up as Miss Grand India in 2022, and not the top winner of the national competition, which was also delayed. Then reigning queen Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien “was already en route to Delhi airport,” the organization added.

MGI also said Glamanand’s promotion of its representative, as well as the international brand, was insufficient, “failing to meet the standards expected by MGI.”

In its statement posted on social media earlier, Glamanand Pres. Nikhil Anand said it was parting ways with MGI because their “vision and goals differ at this moment.”

MGI said it has “decided not to renew their contract beyond 2025. A new license holder will be announced in the near future.”