Beauty queen Magalí Benejam has been stripped of her Miss Universe Argentina crown after making a series of controversial comments.
Benejam, 30, claimed during a livestream that the competition was rigged after it was won by Danish beauty Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, 21, in Mexico City in November.
‘When they announced the Top 5, I saw the judges looking at each other [strange] manners,” Benejam said.
“They started looking at each other as if to say, ‘This is not what we chose, this is not what I chose.’ That’s what it felt like from the outside, and that’s where I said, “Okay, this is solved.” It was always fixed, every year.’
Benejam placed 12th in the competition and was highly critical of the way the Miss Universe Organization became inclusive by lifting the age restriction for the 73rd pageant.
The beauty pageant also allowed the participation of married women, mothers and transgender people.
The Cordoba resident also criticized the attitude of Miss Dominican Republic Celinee Santos.
She added that Miss Puerto Rico Jennifer Colón was no longer friendly as the night of the coronation approached.
Miss Argentina Magalí Benejam was stripped of her Miss Universe Argentina title on January 2 following her controversial comments during an interview on the King Lucho YouTube livestream criticizing the beauty pageant and its participants
Miss Argentina said Miss Universe pageant was ‘always fixed’
“I spoke to her a few times, but in the last few days she decided to stop talking to me, I don’t know why,” Benejam recalls.
‘I think she was very nervous and very in her element, and it happened to me that in the last two days I said to her, ‘Hi, Jenny, how are you?’ and she looked at me and didn’t answer me.’
Benejam also made a stab at Colón’s attire for the final.
“I think it was completely a decision of her organization, I don’t think she had any say in this because what I saw of her style during the competition was very nice,” she said.
The Miss Universe Organization announced its decision to remove Benejam’s title as Miss Universe Argentina in a press release issued on January 2.
“Our values are focused on celebrating diversity, promoting inclusivity and respecting all individuals, regardless of their background, beliefs or experience,” said the organizer of the international beauty pageant.
“The words and actions of our representatives must reflect these unwavering principles that all participants commit to when they join the Miss Universe community.
“The decision comes after careful consideration and is in line with our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of personal and professional conduct. We want to emphasize that this action is being taken to protect the integrity of the organization and the opportunities it provides to women around the world.”
Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, 21, was named the 73rd Miss Universe on Saturday evening in Mexico City. The Danish student thus defeated more than 120 other participants
Benejam was also critical of Miss Dominican Republic’s attitude
Portuguese Marina Machete, a transgender woman, was in the top 20 of last year’s election
DailyMail.com contacted Benejam, Santos and Colón for comment.
Theilvig beat out more than 120 other competitors after the 2023 competition featured married, plus-size and transgender competitors.
Her win went viral when people online commented that things were “getting back to normal” because a woman had taken the crown.
It followed a backlash at last year’s competition over the inclusion of a transgender beauty queen, Portugal’s Marina Machete, who placed in the top 20.