In a livestream that was screen-recorded by a TikTok user and shared by pageant pages on social media, Nawat Itsaragrisil, the president of Miss Grand International, accused Nikki de Moura, the Philippine delegate, of immediately going backstage after the Top 20 candidates were announced.
Although she did not make it to the next round, Itsaragrisil stated that de Moura, a 19-year-old contestant, should have still been a part of certain segments leading up to the coronation. Itsaragrisil emphasized that they had invested a substantial amount of money and time to ensure a successful show, but de Moura appeared indifferent and impolite to those around her.
“She does not pay attention to others. She does not show respect. She lacks responsibility,” Itsaragrisil remarked. “Did you see her? If you saw her, I will give you one million US dollars,” he added, describing working with de Moura as difficult and noting that she only did what she wanted.
In addition to her pursuit of the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 title, de Moura holds the titles of Miss Governor’s Cup South 2018 and Miss Teen Philippines 2019.
Despite her achievements in other pageants, it seems that certain aspects of Nikki de Moura’s behavior have stirred controversy surrounding her participation in Miss Grand International. Respect, professionalism, and discipline are crucial in the realm of pageantry, and this incident serves as a valuable lesson for aspiring beauty queens who aspire to succeed in the beauty industry.