The eight edition of Miss Eco International, i.e. Miss Eco International 2020, was hosted on 4th April 2021 at Baron Resort, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. At the end of the event Gizzelle Uys of South Africa was crowned the new queen by Miss Eco International 2019 Amy Tinie of Malaysia.
Even though the production of the event was grand and magnificent, just a few days after the finale, rumours about several pageant officials, contestants and directors being stranded in Egypt because they tested positive for Covid-19, started circling around. According to the word on the street the pageant organization knew that their staff was infected but didn’t tell anyone.
Mr. Nawat, National Director of Miss Eco Thailand was one of the firsts to address the situation. He went live on his Facebook page and made some revelations regarding the issue. He announced that Thailand’s Juthamas Mekseree became one of the first contestants of Miss Eco International 2021 who were exposed to Covid-19. He also mentioned that it started from the staffs of Miss Eco International who were exposed to Covid but they covered it and instead continued their activities in the contest.
He also shared that seven other divas along with Thailand’s delegate are positive for Covid-19 while one diva awaits her results. Towards the end of his Facebook live, Mr. Nawat also announced that Miss Eco Thailand will no more send their representative to this pageant. Whispers around also indicate that along with Thailand, Peru and Japan might drop their franchise too.
In the spirit of transparency, Harlijk Productions, owner of the Miss Eco Canada franchise, confirmed that Canada’s Jasmine Paguio tested positive of Covid-19 immediately after the Miss Eco International finals in Egypt. They took up to their social media to share that, “Jasmine is now quarantining comfortably in Egypt, has access to necessary medical care, and is being looked after by doctors provided. She barely has any symptoms and is taking this opportunity to rest, relax, and catch up on her social media. She will responsibly travel back to Canada when she has fully recovered and gets a negative result in her future RT-PCR Test.”
Along with Thailand and Canada, Peru’s Lesly Reynas shared her experience through a post where she said, “I cannot be indifferent to everything I am experiencing, and everything that has happened since I arrived in Egypt is outrageous, frustrating and surprising. I never thought that representing my country would cost me my health and integrity. For now, I will only state that two days ago the Miss Eco International organization did not pay for my stay, nor food and, much worse, nor my Covid test and none of the candidates. Therefore, my director demanded that I take the Covid test knowing I have a fever of 38.5.”
She also mentioned that she wrote a case to the owner and director of the Miss Eco International contest, who read it but did not answer her. “I feel extremely sad, many candidates and directors have tested positive for Covid, some are on Airbnb, some without eating, others paying their family members for their hotel, food, accommodation and doctor payments,” Lesly added while she awaits her Covid results.
Apart from these candidates, there is major talk about Philippines’ Kelley Day, Miss Eco International first runner-up 2021, being tested positive for Covid. While the fans and supporters have been outraged by the mismanagement by the pageant organization, Mr. Arnorld Vegafria, National Director of Miss Eco International Philippines released a official statement. The message said, “We are happy to announce that Miss Kelley Day is doing okay and is currently awaiting her results of her RT-PCR test.” They also mentioned that since she can’t fly back to Manila just yet, she remains safe and secure in her hotel, getting adequate attention to ensure her total wellness under the Miss Eco International organization.
Although the real truth about the controversy is yet to be discovered, the rumours and announcements have sparked the fire against the organizers of Miss Eco International. Till we await the medical results of some delegates, we wish them a safe and healthy stay.