BANGKOK, Thailand – In the Miss Universe 2024 competition, Opal Suchata Chuangsri, a 21-year-old native of Phuket from Thailand, made her country proud by reaching the top 5 finalists and securing 3rd place. Despite not winning the crown, Opal received overwhelming support from fans in Thailand and worldwide. Her impeccable performance in both the catwalk rounds and the final Q&A left many confident that she deserved the title.
As the results were announced, the hall erupted in boos when Opal was named 3rd runner-up. Fans felt strongly that she was robbed of victory, particularly due to her standout performance.
British media giant Daily Mail covered the controversy, headlining, “Fuming Miss Universe fans insist Miss Thailand was ROBBED of victory as Miss Denmark is crowned winner for the first time in the competition’s history.”
Victoria Kjaer Theilvig from Denmark became the first Dane to win the Miss Universe crown, but her victory was met with intense criticism, especially in Thailand. Fans there strongly believed Opal deserved to win, praising her sharp and heartfelt answers, especially her response about the essential qualities of a successful leader.
Opal’s reply: “For me, the most important quality of a leader is empathy. No matter how skilled or educated you are, ultimately, empathy is needed to care for your people,” resonated with many.
Social media posts flooded with comments calling the results unfair, with some fans declaring that Opal was “robbed” of the crown. Additionally, Opal’s personal story, including her battle with breast cancer at just 16, earned her admiration and support.
Amid the controversy, there were also discussions about the decision to award the title of “Queen of Asia” to a contestant from the Philippines, despite her earlier elimination, which added fuel to the debate over the fairness of the competition.
Miss Universe fans, particularly in Thailand, voiced their frustration over the judging process, feeling that Opal’s performance had been overlooked in favor of other contestants.
