Rachel Gupta made headlines as the first Indian to be crowned Miss Grand International in October 2024. However, her reign was short-lived as she recently announced her resignation due to a toxic work environment and broken promises. Gupta took to social media to share her decision, stating that the mistreatment and toxic environment were unbearable for her.
In a statement shared online, Gupta mentioned that the months following her crowning were filled with broken promises and mistreatment, leading to her difficult decision to step down. Despite being expected to serve until the next titleholder is crowned in October this year, Gupta felt that she could no longer endure the toxic environment in silence.
To further shed light on her experiences, Gupta released a video on YouTube titled “The Truth About Miss Grand International – My Story.” In the video, she detailed how the pageant organisers pressured her to maintain an extremely thin physique, failed to provide basic support like access to a gym, and forced her to promote “cheap, tacky products” on TikTok.
Gupta also alleged that a pageant representative once physically criticized her weight and appearance by pinching her body. She expressed feeling neglected and mistreated by the organisers, stating, “Frankly, they don’t care if I live or die. They just want me to smile at events, stay skinny, and make them money.”
In response to Gupta’s resignation, the Miss Grand International Organisation released a statement announcing her termination. They cited her alleged failure to fulfill contractual duties, engage in unauthorized work commitments, and refusal to travel to Guatemala for a scheduled appearance. The organisation requested Gupta to return the crown within 30 days and revoked her title immediately.
Additionally, the organisation accused Gupta of arranging unauthorized cosmetic procedures for her mother and sister at a sponsor’s clinic in South Korea without informing the pageant. They also claimed that Gupta refused to post promotional content in return for the procedures.
Despite the backlash from the Miss Grand International Organisation, Gupta stands by her decision to resign and share her experiences. Her courage in speaking out against mistreatment and toxic work environments has sparked a conversation about the treatment of beauty pageant winners and the importance of prioritizing their well-being.
