Photo: Getty Images
Miss Universe Argentina was stripped of her title after publicly claiming that the competition was rigged, the Latin Times reported.
Magalí Benejam, 30, of Córdoba, suggested that the final results of the Miss Universe pageant were questionable and teased that the entire event was fake during a recent live YouTube broadcast with content creator King Lucho.
“When they announced the Top 5, I saw the judges looking at each other in [strange] ways,” Benejam said, which was translated by the Latin Times. “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, ‘OK, this is fixed.’ It was always fixed, every year.”
Benejam, who placed 12th in the competition, mentioned both the winner, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, 21, of Denmark, and Miss Puerto Rico Jennifer Colón, 37, who also placed in the top 12, during the YouTube broadcast. The model claimed that she knew Miss Denmark was going to win because she had at least three security guards with her during the final days of the pageant and said that people told her the outcome was decided 10 days prior.
Benejam accused Colón of being unfriendly and wearing the "worst" gown during the end of the competition.
“I spoke to her a couple of times, but the last few days she decided to stop talking to me, I don’t know why,’ Benejam said, though acknowledging that Miss Puerto Rico seemed "very nervous" and "very much in her element" when she didn't respond to a simple question like "how are you?"
Benejam also shared an Instagram reel with a caption claiming she had "the best body of this Miss Universe" even after losing the competition.
The Miss Universe Organization reportedly cut ties with Benejam once it became aware of her comments on January 2.
“The Miss Universe Organization Announces the Withdrawal of the Miss Universe Argentina Title from Miss Magali Benejam,” a statement from the organization read. “After a thorough review of recent public comments made by Miss Magali Benejam, and based on our core principles, we have decided to withdraw immediately the title of Miss Universe Argentina from Miss Benejam."
“The decision comes after careful consideration and aligns with our commitment to uphold the highest standards of personal and professional conduct,” the statement continued. “We want to emphasize that this action is taken to protect the integrity of the organization and the opportunities it provides to women around the world.”
Benejam still had "Miss Universe Argentina 2024" listed in her Instagram bio as of Wednesday (January 8) morning.