Miss Universe Jamaica 2025, who fell off preliminary stage, sues pageant for negligence

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September 24, 2026 | 2:25pm

MANILA, Philippines — Doctor and beauty queen Gabrielle Henry, who represented Jamaica at Miss Universe 2025, is suing the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and its owners on several claims, including negligence following her tragic fall during the contest's preliminary round.

On November 19, 2025, Henry stumbled off the stage and fell onto the floor after completing her evening gown walk.

The live feed did not capture the fall, but videos taken by the audience showed people rushing to Gabrielle's aid. She was quickly wheeled out on a stretcher as the event continued.

Henry was immediately brought to a Bangkok hospital and confirmed to have suffered intracranial hemorrhage with loss of consciousness, a fracture, facial lacerations, and other significant injuries as a result of the fall.

The ophthalmologist remained in Thailand for a few more weeks before being cleared for a return to Jamaica to continue her recovery and treatment.

MUO said at that time that it would assume full and immediate responsibility for the incident, covering all hospital, medical, and rehabilitation expenses, as well as the accommodation and living costs of Henry's family who stayed with her in Thailand.

It also said that it would fund the medically escorted repatriation flight back to Jamaica, as well as any future medical expenses arising from the incident.

The lawsuit

Earlier this week, Henry filed at the Delaware Superior Court a lawsuit against MUO and its two parent companies, JKN Legacy Inc. and Legacy Holding Group USA, owned respectively by Anne Jakrajutatip and Raul Rocha.

Henry is suing the other parties for five claims: negligence, premises liability, negligent hiring, retention and supervision, and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The beauty queen claimed she followed the rehearsed choreography until she fell around five feet through an "unmarked and uncovered stage opening," which contained both lighting equipment and concrete.

Another claim in the lawsuit is that intense lighting facing her during the walk impaired her visibility, therefore leading to the fall, which caused her "unconsciousness, traumatic brain injury with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage, frontal lobe hemorrhagic contusion, and subdural hemorrhage."

Other contestants allegedly complained about the pageant's lighting and staging conditions which, after the fall, was "modified to add bright white lights to illuminate the edging of the stage."

Henry called it "the most traumatic moment" of her life and that media coverage of the incident "caused, and continues to cause, severe emotional distress distinct from, and in addition to, the distress arising from her physical injuries."

The doctor was unable to resume her medical residency and the injuries left her to suffer "neurological and cognitive symptoms," which require ongoing care, rehabilitation, and follow-ups.

Response

MUO issued a statement to People magazine saying it had not yet received paperwork regarding the lawsuit. The organization said it would not comment on the matter.

"Responsibility for the production of the 74th Miss Universe competition in Thailand, including the venue, the stage, and on-site safety, rested with the host and production entities, Miss Grand International (MGI) and Miss Universe Thailand, under the direction of Nawat Itsaragrisil," MUO said.

Itsaragrisil is the owner of the MGI pageant and Thai franchise of Miss Universe. He holds a high-ranking role within the MUO, but as of recent weeks, has been facing his own issues related to reigning Miss Universe Fatima Bosch.

MUO claimed that "when MGI and Miss Universe Thailand failed to cover Henry's hospital expenses and left her unattended," it "stepped in and paid them, despite having no obligation to do so."

MGI was mentioned in Henry's lawsuit, althought while it was in charge of the event's staging, lighting, and safety, MUO "retained and exercised control over the manner and means" of the same.

Henry additonally claimed that MUO was unable to maintain a safe stage by leaving the opening unguarded, unmarked, and unbarricaded, and failed to know about MGI's "unsafe staging and production practices."

MUO confirmed it paid for Henry's treatment in specialized Jamaican hospital but has since not received any request or claim for additional medical expenses nor a response for Henry to become a goodwill ambassador for Miss Universe.

Mexico's Fatima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe 2025, but even that was deemed a controversy by many in the global pageant community.

The diamond edition of Miss Universe will take place this November in Puerto Rico, where the Philippines' Bea Millan-Windorski vies to win the country's fifth crown.

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