Puerto Rico gov’t accused of depositing Miss Universe funds into unrelated account
By THE STAR STAFF
Representatives of Thai businessman Nawat Itsaragrisil, owner of the Miss Universe Thailand franchise, have alleged that the Puerto Rico government deposited funds intended for the Miss Universe organization into bank accounts that do not belong to the pageant organization.
The claims were presented before the Puerto Rico Senate’s Tourism Committee and were later confirmed by Sen. Marissa “Marissita” Jiménez Santoni of the New Progressive Party (NPP).
Jiménez Santoni said lawmakers have requested invoices, corporate resolutions, and banking information to determine where the funds were deposited and whether the transactions were properly authorized.
“We want to address this responsibly,” the senator said during an interview with Radio Isla 1320 AM. “We do not want the money to be lost, nor do we want a controversy that could result in the loss of public funds or damage Puerto Rico’s reputation.”
Itsaragrisil, who also owns the Miss Grand International franchise, has previously questioned the agreements related to hosting the Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico. He has reportedly warned that the event could be canceled if concerns over the financial arrangements are not resolved.
Jiménez Santoni said Puerto Rican officials are willing to meet with the businessman and emphasized the need to verify the existence of the bank accounts and whether the transactions actually occurred.
“We need to ensure the credibility of these banks and confirm whether these transfers were made,” she said, noting that the investigation is complicated because the accounts involved are located outside Puerto Rico.
The controversy centers on a government investment originally set at $9 million, later reduced to $8.7 million. Puerto Rico has already disbursed $4.5 million, while $4.2 million remains outstanding. Government officials have projected that hosting the event could generate as much as $20 million in economic benefits.
The 75th edition of the Miss Universe pageant is scheduled to take place on Nov. 24 at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in Hato Rey. Puerto Rico’s representative in the competition will be Jenniffer Barreto. She represented San Sebastián at Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2026, winning the 70th edition of the pageant in June.
The issue has attracted political attention. Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz recently warned that the Miss Universe controversy could become a major challenge for La Fortaleza, Puerto Rico’s executive branch headquarters. He compared the situation to previous high-profile controversies involving millions of dollars in public funds.
Despite the allegations, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company has maintained that the original contract and subsequent amendments were signed by authorized representatives of the Miss Universe organization. The agency argues that internal disputes within the organization do not affect its contractual relationship with the Puerto Rican government.
Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has also defended both the event and the public investment, arguing that Miss Universe will generate significant economic activity and international exposure for the island.
The Senate Tourism Committee is expected to continue reviewing documentation related to the payments and banking transactions as the investigation proceeds.
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