Miss Universe Singapore continues search for 2026 queen despite franchise dispute over eligibility

Participants Chantal Tan (left), a 26-year-old model, and Krisha Raj, a 28-year-old communications manager, at the Miss Universe Singapore 2026 audition held at *Scape on Sept 20.

PHOTO: HYPERLIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Published Sep 22, 2026, 06:00 AM

Updated Sep 22, 2026, 01:22 PM

Miss Universe Singapore's national director Sean Wong remains confident the local delegate will get to compete in Puerto Rico despite saga.

Wong emphasises resilience in candidates, preparing them to face industry pressure and scrutiny amid the franchise conflict.

The pageant offers career opportunities beyond the crown, with prizes including a modelling contract, travel to Puerto Rico, and sponsored products valued over $10,000.

SINGAPORE – Miss Universe Singapore (MUS) 2026 national director Sean Wong remains confident that Singapore’s representative will make it to the international stage for the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico on Nov 24, despite an ongoing franchise disagreement.

The issue came to light on Sept 18 after JKN Universe stated that franchise agreements across six South-east Asian nations – Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos and Malaysia – were not recognised, raising questions over their eligibility.

JKN Universe holds the legal rights and licensing to the Miss Universe brand, and operates as the Miss Universe Organization.

Meanwhile, Thai pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil, chief executive of Miss Universe Eastern, holds a 50 per cent stake in the global brand. At a press conference on Sept 18 in Bangkok, he maintained that the exclusion notice had no legal effect.

He argued that such a major decision would require approval through JKN Universe’s governance structure and could not, in his view, be imposed unilaterally.

Miss Universe Eastern owns the franchise rights for the six South-east Asian nations.

Nawat, 61, made international headlines in 2025 after publicly scolding Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch during a sashing ceremony for that year’s Miss Universe, calling her a “dumb head”.

Wong tells The Straits Times that Nawat approached him in August to acquire the Singapore licence and run the local pageant.

Miss Universe Singapore 2026 national director Sean Wong (second from left) with fellow judges at the pageant audition held at *Scape on Sept 20. PHOTO: HYPERLIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Miss Universe Singapore 2026 national director Sean Wong (second from left) with fellow judges at the pageant audition held at *Scape on Sept 20.

Having managed pageant licences in Malaysia and Singapore since 2018, Wong is well versed in the complexities of the business. He holds the licences for a portfolio of international pageant brands in both countries, including Miss World Singapore, Miss World Malaysia and Miss Grand Malaysia. This marks the first time he is running MUS.

The 51-year-old says he took on the role with a clear understanding of the disputes beforehand.

“Legal disputes are common between big brands,” he says, noting that he had reviewed the contracts carefully before coming on board.

“I don’t see a problem based on the contractual and business structure that governs our operations. Miss Universe Eastern has the authority to assign the rights to us.”

While he has faith in Nawat to resolve the dispute and that Singapore’s delegate will travel to Puerto Rico, his main consideration is how she will be received.

“My worry is that our contestant is not fairly featured or judged,” Wong says. Contestants from around the world are expected to arrive for rehearsals and promotional events about a month before the grand finale on Nov 24.

To ensure the Singapore delegate is prepared for these potential hurdles, Wong placed emphasis on resilience during the audition rounds held on Sept 20 and 21, which drew about 50 candidates in person and online.

He asked applicants direct questions regarding the ongoing situation, testing how they would navigate industry pressure and potential online scrutiny.

“I asked them, ‘How would you handle it if people say that you are not qualified to take part?’”

Wong is seeking a candidate who exhibits poise, independence and a distinct stage presence, alongside a clear commitment to social causes and community initiatives. She must also be able to shine in a high-pressure environment.

Preparations are moving quickly ahead of the MUS final on Oct 13 at Scape Ground Theatre.

Beyond the crown itself, Wong views the pageant as a launch pad for participants to pursue careers in modelling, acting, hosting and public speaking.

As the chief executive of multi-platform media firm HyperLive Entertainment, Wong intends to leverage his company’s ecosystem to support contestants well beyond the competition.

The winner of MUS 2026 will receive a model management contract with Upfront Models Singapore, return flights to Puerto Rico and sponsored products and services valued at more than $10,000.

The final walk-in audition will be held from 5pm to 6pm on Sept 28 at *Scape Launchpad.

The competition is open to female Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 18 and above, with no upper age limit, regardless of marital or parental status.

Applicants who are overseas or unable to attend in person may submit their applications online through the official Instagram page ( @missuniversesingapore_official ).

2026 年 9 月 20 日，在 *Scape 举行的 2026 年新加坡环球小姐选拔赛上，参赛者包括 26 岁的模特 Chantal Tan（左）和 28 岁的通讯经理 Krisha Raj。

图片来源：HYPERLIVE ENTERTAINMENT

发布于 2026 年 9 月 22 日上午 6:00

更新于2026年9月22日下午1:22

尽管经历了一系列波折，新加坡环球小姐国家总监黄先生仍然相信，新加坡代表将有机会参加在波多黎各举行的比赛。

黄强调候选人的韧性，让他们做好准备面对特许经营冲突中的行业压力和审查。

选美比赛除了赢得桂冠之外，还提供职业发展机会，奖品包括模特合同、波多黎各之旅以及价值超过 10,000 美元的赞助产品。

新加坡——尽管目前存在特许经营权方面的分歧，但2026年新加坡环球小姐（MUS）国家总监黄先生仍然充满信心，认为新加坡代表将能够登上国际舞台，参加11月24日在波多黎各举行的第75届环球小姐大赛。

9 月 18 日，JKN Universe 宣布不承认其在新加坡、泰国、印度尼西亚、越南、老挝和马来西亚这六个东南亚国家的特许经营协议，引发了人们对其资格的质疑，此事才浮出水面。

JKN Universe 拥有环球小姐品牌的合法权利和授权，并以环球小姐组织的名义运营。

与此同时，泰国环球小姐选美大赛总监、环球小姐东方赛区首席执行官纳瓦·伊萨拉格里西尔持有该全球品牌50%的股份。9月18日，他在曼谷举行的新闻发布会上坚称，该除名通知不具有法律效力。

他认为，如此重大的决定需要经过 JKN Universe 管理结构的批准，在他看来，不能单方面强加。

环球小姐东方赛区拥有东南亚六个国家的特许经营权。

61岁的纳瓦特在2025年登上国际新闻头条，当时她在当年的环球小姐颁奖典礼上公开斥责墨西哥小姐法蒂玛·博什，称她为“笨蛋”。

黄告诉《海峡时报》，纳瓦特在八月份联系他，希望获得新加坡的执照并举办当地的选美比赛。

2026年新加坡环球小姐选美大赛国家总监黄思远（左二）与评委们于9月20日在*Scape举行的海选现场合影。图片：HYPERLIVE ENTERTAINMENT

2026 年新加坡环球小姐国家总监 Sean Wong（左二）与评委们于 9 月 20 日在 *Scape 举行的选美比赛试镜中合影。

自2018年起，黄先生便在马来西亚和新加坡管理选美赛事牌照，对该行业的复杂运作了如指掌。他拥有多个国际选美品牌在两国的牌照，包括新加坡世界小姐、马来西亚世界小姐和马来西亚环球小姐。此次是他首次执掌MUS。

这位 51 岁的男子表示，他在接受这个职位之前就已经清楚地了解了这些争议。

“大品牌之间发生法律纠纷很常见，”他说道，并指出他在加入公司之前已经仔细审查了合同。

“根据我们运营所依据的合同和商业结构，我认为不存在问题。环球小姐东部赛区有权将相关权利转让给我们。”

虽然他相信纳瓦特能够解决争端，并且新加坡代表将前往波多黎各，但他最关心的是她将如何受到接待。

黄女士表示：“我担心我们的参赛选手得不到公平的展示和评判。”来自世界各地的参赛选手预计将在11月24日总决赛前一个月左右抵达，参加彩排和宣传活动。

为了确保新加坡代表能够应对这些潜在的障碍，黄在9月20日和21日举行的选拔赛中强调了韧性，当时约有50名候选人亲自或在线参加了选拔赛。

他直接向应聘者询问有关当前形势的问题，测试他们将如何应对行业压力和潜在的网络审查。

我问他们：“如果有人说你没有资格参加，你会怎么应对？”

黄女士正在寻找一位举止优雅、独立自主、具有鲜明舞台魅力，同时对社会公益事业和社区活动充满热情的候选人。她还必须能够在高压环境下脱颖而出。

MUS决赛将于10月13日在Scape Ground剧院举行，各项准备工作正在紧锣密鼓地进行中。

除了桂冠本身，黄女士认为选美比赛是参赛者追求模特、演员、主持人、演讲等职业的跳板。

作为多平台媒体公司 HyperLive Entertainment 的首席执行官，黄先生打算利用公司的生态系统，在比赛之外为参赛者提供支持。

2026 年 MUS 冠军将获得与新加坡 Upfront Models 模特经纪公司的模特经纪合同、往返波多黎各的机票以及价值超过 10,000 美元的赞助产品和服务。

最终的现场试镜将于9月28日下午5点至6点在*Scape Launchpad举行。

本次比赛面向18岁及以上的新加坡女性公民和永久居民开放，没有年龄上限，也不受婚姻或父母身份的限制。

身在海外或无法亲自到场的申请人可以通过官方 Instagram 页面（@missuniversesingapore_official）在线提交申请。