Beauty pageant winner Rachel Gupta accuses organisers of abuse, harassment by Thailand-based organisers

Jalandhar-based Rachel Gupta (21), the winner of Miss Grand International-2024, on Monday alleged that she was abused, harassed and even blackmailed by the Thailand-based pageant organisers, forcing her to give up her crown recently.

“I faced a lot of nasty comments on my physique. The organisers would send their representatives, who would pinch me and tell me that I had put on weight. I could not bear it anymore. They targeted me on the social media, posting zoomed pictures of my body parts. I had to finally stand up for my self-respect as I felt threatened and was deprived of a safe place,” she claimed.

The model also alleged that the terms of her contract had been violated. She said, “I was not paid any stipend after the first month of winning the crown. I had to seek financial support from my parents in Jalandhar even for basic needs like food, and it did not feel good. The contract mentioned that I would be made to tour 20 countries as an ambassador, but was taken to only Czech Republic.”

Rachel said she had come to know that there had been reports of harassment of previous title winners too.

On allegations levelled by the organisers that she breached the contract terms by attending certain events outside, the 21-year-old said, “I had been barred from participating any programme in India. I messaged them about certain good events I have in hand and I have messages wherein they gave their consent. They even asked for pictures of these events and put these out on their social media pages as an appreciation of the same.”