Even the Miss Universe pageant got victimized by false posts.
On Sunday, a day before the new Miss Universe gets crowned, some pageant enthusiasts posted a photo of document showing an alleged list of Miss Universe 2021 top 16.
It listed the following candidates as the supposed pre-determined top 16:
- Belgium
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Colombia
- France
- India
- Kenya
- Mauritius
- Namibia
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Puerto Rico
- Spain
- The Bahamas
- United States
- Vietnam
Philippines is not on the list.
The document bore the supposed signature of Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization. It also printed the logos of Miss Universe, Israel, FOX, Portia&Scarlett and MUBA Cosmetics.
“The information contained in this document is highly confidential, any public disclosure before December 12,2021 will lead to legal action,” the alleged Top 16 document reads.
This was initially posted by Instagram user @gutierrezary.
“Scandal leaks the alleged top 16 of Miss Universe,” it said with laughing, fire and crown emojis.
“If this was the top 16, what would the next Miss Universe say?” the Instagram user added.
It was later reposted by pageant meme page, El Tocuyo memes on its social media accounts.
“Is it a repeat of (MGI) of another battle Tocuyo for Thailand and Philippines?” the pageant meme page wrote with hashtags, #RumoredTocuyoBesties, #PhilThais, #NewAsianBesties, #MissUniverse #LeakedResults #Unverified.
The pageant meme page was referring to MGI, or the recently concluded Miss Grand International, where Miss Grand Philippines Samantha Panlilio failed to enter the Top 21. Pageant rumors alleged that the Top 21 was already pre-determined by the MGI management.
On the other hand, the Tocuyo mentioned in the caption, refers to the pageant language “El Tocuyo” which happens when a pageant frontrunner is booted out for numerous reasons.
Filipino pageant fans then flooded the comments section of these post with shocked and sad emojis as they were saddened by the exclusion of Philippines from the list.
Philippine representative Beatrice Luigi Gomez is vying for the fifth Miss Universe crown.
The leaked results were, however, debunked as false by the Miss Universe Organization, according to a pageant-centered page Miss U updates.
In an Instagram post, Miss U updates, known for reliable news on Miss Universe pageant, said it received tons of private messages about the document, so it verified the rumors with the organization.
“You can rest because it is FAKE, and it was confirmed fake by the Miss Universe organization! Someone has a loooooooot of time on their hands,” it wrote.
“Now let’s continue into this big day with a lot of positivity!” the pageant page added.
Miss U updates also addressed those who cast doubt on the verification process.
“I talk to multiple people from the org directly. They actually asked me if I could post it on my feed cause I addressed It on my story briefly after I asked them if it was real, and then they messaged me and asked me if I could post it on my feed and say it’s confirmed by them, so I did,” it added.
El Tocuyo memes reposted this confirmation and likewise said it’s a hoax.
“It’s a prank from @gutierrezary1,” it said with laughing emojis.
“Keep calm now…but continue VOTING!!! The document might be fake but it is still a possibility…” the pageant meme page added.
Miss Universe is set to crown the 70th title holder in the pageant finals slated Monday (Philippine time) at the Red Sea Resort in Israel.
A total of 80 women are competing this year.