Sexual harassment, corruption, and ongoing litigation have surrounded the Miss USA and Miss Universe systems for years, creating unsafe environments and exposing deep power imbalances. Contestants, titleholders, and staff have reported misconduct, intimidation, and retaliation—often bound by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that silence truth and protect those in power. These harms ripple outward, affecting families, sponsors, and audiences—especially the young women told that pageantry is a path to empowerment.

If nothing changes, Miss USA and Miss Universe will continue to be treated as commodities—sold, rebranded, and repackaged under new ownership—without addressing the deep structural and legal issues that have enabled harm for decades. Allowing this cycle to continue does not replace accountability; it merely transfers control while the same systems of silence remain intact. The use of restrictive NDAs and the pattern of international misconduct reports show that this is not a public-relations problem—it’s a systemic one. Without a full suspension and external investigation, future contestants will inherit the same broken foundation disguised as opportunity.

Now is the time to act because silence is no longer protection—it’s complicity. The Miss USA and Miss Universe Organizations have operated for years behind NDAs that silence contestants, witnesses, and staff who hold firsthand knowledge of corruption, harassment, and abuse. These NDAs, originally meant for confidentiality, have become tools of suppression that protect institutions instead of people.

Survivors and former titleholders are coming forward with accounts of sexual harassment, coercion, and legal intimidation. Some have described being pressured to remain quiet to preserve the organization’s image. Others have reported fear of retaliation or litigation for simply telling the truth.

Until these NDAs are lifted, the truth cannot fully emerge—and justice cannot begin. The longer the organizations operate without intervention, the more evidence risks being buried, and the more victims are forced to carry the weight of secrecy.

Immediate suspension is the only ethical course. A full, independent investigation—paired with the release or review of NDAs—is necessary to uncover what has been hidden and to ensure no woman is ever silenced or exploited again.

We call upon New York Attorney General Letitia James, and UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous to open and oversee this investigation and to hold these organizations accountable.

The cost of waiting is not just reputational—it’s human.

Please sign the petition for the contestants of Miss Universe 2025: https://c.org/YnKtvg5d45

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