Miss Universe Contestant Disqualified Over Alleged Hotel Room Visit
Italy Mora, Panama’s representative at the 2024 Miss Universe competition, has been disqualified just hours before the event’s grand finale in Mexico.
The competition’s organisers have not officially disclosed the reason for Mora’s expulsion. However, reports from The New York Post suggest it stemmed from an unauthorised visit to her boyfriend, Juan Abadia’s, hotel room in Mexico.
In a statement denying the allegations, Mora attributed her disqualification to a heated argument with Cesar Anel Rodriguez, the director of Miss Universe Panama, over what she described as the poor organisation of the event. She claimed the confrontation escalated when her boyfriend revealed that he had covered several of her expenses, including a $7,000 Carolina Herrera gown, due to negligence by the organisers.
Mora maintained that the presence of her boyfriend during the argument led to a misunderstanding, which was later framed as a breach of pageant rules.
Miss Universe’s grand finale is set to take place on Saturday, 16 November 2024, in Mexico, with contestants from across the globe competing for the coveted crown.
