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Miss Universe announced that CEO Mario Búcaro has stepped down from his role one month after taking on the role
This comes after the latest pageant, which was executed by Búcaro, was riddled with numerous controversies
Búcaro assumed the position of CEO after former Miss Universe CEO Jakapong "Anne" Jakrajutatip stepped down in June
Miss Universe CEO Mario Búcaro has stepped down — a month after taking on the role.
TheMiss Universe Pageantannounced on Friday, Dec. 12, that Búcaro, 48, "concluded his tenure" as CEO of the organization, a position which he assumed in November afterJakapong "Anne" Jakrajutatipstepped down as CEO in June.
In a statement, Búcaro said, "Those who know me and have worked with me understand that I have always conducted myself with the highest ethical standards, and that in every responsibility I have assumed, I have sought to leave a positive legacy with every person with whom I have collaborated."
Búcaro added that his time within the Miss Universe organization "represented an invaluable period of learning, during which I had the privilege of working alongside extraordinary women, exceptional professionals, and a global community that genuinely believes in the empowerment of women."
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The Miss Universe pageant did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on the announcement.
This comes after the numerous controversies that have plagued the latest Miss Universe competition, which he had helped execute. This included aheated confrontationon Nov. 4 between pageant executiveNawat ItsaragrisilandFátima Bosch, who represented Mexico and was ultimatelycrowned the pageant's winner, which went viral.
Following the incident, Miss Universe owner Raul Rocha announced multiple sanctions against Itsaragrisil, includinghis restriction from the pageant. However, Former Miss Massachusetts USA winnerMelissa Sapini, who represented Haiti atMiss Universe 2025claimed to PEOPLE in late November that contestants regularly saw the pageant executive in the following weeks.
She also claimed that there wereseveral "red flags" ahead of the pageantincluding contestants getting sick due to the flu and food poisoning, which she alleged some contestants got from the "box lunches" they gave out.
The pageant told PEOPLE in response to her claims that "a number of contestants" did not submit "their health conditions and dietary restrictions in advance," which made it "impossible for us to prepare special meals in time."
A judge alsoresigned ahead of the pageant, claiming that the organization formed an "impromptu jury" to select finalists, and a Miss Universe contestant alleged that theTop 30 in the competition was chosenbefore the contestants took the stage.
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The Miss Universe pageantissued a statementdenying both claims, saying "that no impromptu jury has been created, that no external group has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists, and that all competition evaluations continue to follow the established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols."
Búcaro took the role over from previous CEO Jakrajutatip, who was issued anarrest warrantin late November for alleged financial fraud at her company, JKN Global Group, which owns the Miss Universe pageant.
Read the original article onPeople
