Beauty queen Rachel Gupta stripped of her crown: A dramatic fall out filled with toxic work accusations and exploitation

Dubai: India’s first Miss Grand International (MGI) titleholder Rachel Gupta has been stripped of her crown in a dramatic fallout that has once again cast the spotlight on the pressures and politics behind international beauty pageants.

According to GMA News Online, The Miss Grand International Organization announced Gupta’s dethronement today, stating that she had “failed in her duties as its reigning queen,” alleging that she engaged in external projects without prior approval and refused to participate in a scheduled trip to Guatemala.

But Gupta, crowned in October 2024 in Bangkok, is telling a very different story, according to her Instagram account.

In a statement posted on social media shortly after the announcement, Gupta said she voluntarily stepped down due to “broken promises, mistreatment, and a toxic environment.”

“It is with deep regret that I share this news: I have made the decision to step down as Miss Grand International 2024 and return my crown,” she wrote.

“Being crowned was one of the most cherished dreams of my life, and I was filled with hope and pride to represent my country and make history. However, the months following my crowning have been marked by broken promises, mistreatment, and a toxic environment I can no longer endure in silence.”

Gupta also promised to release a full video in the coming days, detailing her “difficult journey” as Miss Grand International. At the time of writing this article, the organisation has not responded to her claims.

The Philippines’ CJ Opiaza, her 1st runner-up, is widely expected to take over the title, according to GMA News online.

Celina Jaitly defends pageant world to Gulf News: 'Gratitude isn’t servitude'

The controversy comes just days after Miss England 2025 Milla Magee criticized the Miss World India event, alleging exploitative sponsor engagements and claiming she was pressured to conform to dress expectations.

In an exclusive statement to Gulf News, former Miss India, Miss Universe runner-up, UN Goodwill Ambassador, and former Dubai resident Celina Jaitly addressed the controversy head-on.

“Having represented India at Miss Universe in Puerto Rico, I can say with absolute certainty that being part of an international pageant means showing up with grace, gratitude, and professionalism,” said Jaitly. “There wasn’t a single day in Puerto Rico when we weren’t attending three to four events in addition to intense rehearsals. We did it all with pride.”

She addressed Magee’s reported preference for CPR training over swimsuit rounds:

“That is like a doctor entering a beauty pageant and insisting on performing a surgery instead of activities pertaining to the pageant. It reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the platform she voluntarily entered.”

Jaitly made it clear that dressing appropriately for sponsor events is standard practice.

“This is a beauty pageant, not an HR seminar.”

While acknowledging Magee’s right to her feelings — “I’m sorry that Miss Magee felt the way she did” — Jaitly didn’t hold back on what she believes are dangerous misrepresentations.

“To equate engaging with sponsors in the presence of global media and press to ‘prostitution’ is not only deeply offensive — it is a reckless misuse of language that belittles women and disrespects the millions who work in the beauty and fashion industry.”

She reminded readers of the powerful economic and cultural machinery behind pageantry.

“The global beauty industry alone is projected to generate over $667 billion in revenue by 2025, while the fashion industry is valued at approximately $1.7 trillion… These industries are not just about aesthetics; they are powerful economic engines.”“We are not just beauty queens — we are economic revolutionaries,” Jaitly said, referencing India’s history of producing globally influential pageant winners like Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai, Lara Dutta, and Priyanka Chopra.

Ending on a deeply personal note, Jaitly recalled her journey from a cantonment town to the global stage.

“Miss India and Miss Universe gave a girl like me who grew up in the remotest parts of India as an infantryman’s daughter a platform and an opportunity to change my life overnight,” she said. “I’ve gone from the cantonments of India to the global stage — from the United Nations to blockbuster films — because of what that crown made possible.”

And in a closing statement that seems to echo across both controversies, she added:

“The truth must matter.”