In the serene setting of Fiji’s Pearl Resort & Spa, a beauty pageant was marred by scandal. 24-year-old MBA student Manshika Prasad had just been crowned Miss Fiji, but the celebratory atmosphere quickly turned sour. According to a judge, the pageant’s situation “turned really ugly” in the days following the event.
The controversy began two days after Ms. Prasad’s crowning when Miss Universe Fiji (MUF) issued a press release citing a “serious breach of principles” and announced that “revised results” would be forthcoming. Shortly after, Ms. Prasad was informed that she would no longer represent Fiji in the Miss Universe competition in Mexico. Instead, Nadine Roberts, a 30-year-old model and property developer from Sydney, would take her place.
JENNIFER CHAN
The press release alleged that Ms. Prasad’s selection was the result of a rigged vote favoring a “Fiji Indian” contestant due to potential financial benefits for the event’s manager. Ms. Prasad, distraught, announced a break from social media but hinted at untold details. Meanwhile, Ms. Roberts expressed support, thanking Miss Universe Fiji for its “swift action” on Instagram.
The pageant participants were unsettled by the sudden changes. Melissa White, a marine biologist and judge, noted that everything had seemed perfect until the outcome was questioned. Jennifer Chan, another judge, described Ms. Prasad as the clear winner, both for her stage performance and her interaction with the other contestants. Despite Ms. Prasad receiving four out of seven votes, concerns arose when one judge, Riri Febriani, was absent from a celebratory boat trip and was reportedly in contact with someone named “Jamie.”
It was later discovered that Lux Projects, the company that purchased the Miss Universe license for Fiji, was dissatisfied with the result. The company’s press release claimed that the licensee should have had a vote, which was not counted, and that the licensee’s vote would have made Ms. Roberts the winner.
JENNIFER CHAN
Further investigation revealed that Jamie McIntyre, an Australian businessman and husband of Nadine Roberts, had connections with Lux Projects. McIntyre, who had been banned from business in Australia for a decade, was involved in the controversy despite not being an official director or shareholder. His representatives denied any wrongdoing, labeling accusations as a “conspiracy theory.”
The scandal led to various participants and judges receiving “cease and desist” notices from Lux Projects. Despite the turmoil, Ms. Prasad announced on social media that she had been reinstated as Miss Fiji 2024. The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) reportedly worked to rectify the situation, reinstating Ms. Prasad and expressing dissatisfaction with the events in Fiji.
Judge Melissa White praised Ms. Prasad for her conduct throughout the ordeal, expressing relief that the truth had prevailed. Meanwhile, Ms. Roberts continues to claim the title of “real Miss Universe Fiji 2024” on Instagram. The pageant, once a symbol of prestige, has now become a battleground for accusations and controversy.
