Just days before the grand final of Miss Universe 2025, scheduled for the night of Thursday 20 to Friday 21 November, the famous footballer Claude Makélélé announced his resignation from the jury, causing a heated controversy.

Makélélé, a former French international and icon of European football, had been appointed as a jury member to offer his perspective on the competition. A few days later, he explained that he was withdrawing due to "unforeseen personal reasons." But the timing of his resignation raises questions, especially after that of another judge, Omar Harfouch , who had denounced a secret "parallel jury" and a selection of finalists pre-selected outside the official framework.

According to Harfouch, this parallel jury allegedly manipulated the list of 30 finalists, calling into question the transparency of the competition and the integrity of the selection process. Media reports indicate that Makélélé chose to leave the jury amidst the controversy, fueling speculation about irregularities and possible corruption .

The Miss Universe committee responded by denying the existence of an impromptu or parallel jury, while confirming Makélélé's resignation. Despite these denials, the scandal is causing a major stir on social media and in the international press, casting a shadow over the highly anticipated final.

This withdrawal comes at a crucial time for the competition, which is striving to ensure transparency and credibility , as internet users and observers point to inconsistencies in the selection process. The outcome of this affair will be closely scrutinized, and the competition's image could suffer if the accusations are confirmed.