BANGKOK — Nearly three weeks after a devastating fall during the preliminary competition, the Miss Universe Organization has finally disclosed the full, life-threatening extent of injuries sustained by Miss Jamaica, Dr. Gabrielle Henry. The 28-year-old ophthalmologist and women’s health advocate plunged several feet from an unmarked edge of the stage on November 19 while confidently walking in her orange evening gown at Bangkok’s Impact Challenger Hall.
In a joint statement released on December 8, the organization confirmed that Henry suffered an intracranial hemorrhage with loss of consciousness, a fracture, severe facial lacerations, and other significant injuries. She was immediately rushed to Paolo Rangsit Hospital, where she has remained in intensive care under 24-hour specialist neurological monitoring ever since. Despite earlier assurances from the Miss Universe Jamaica team that her life was not in danger, the latest update makes clear the gravity of her condition.
Henry is now scheduled to be medically evacuated to Jamaica in the coming days on a fully supervised repatriation flight and will be taken directly to a hospital in Kingston for continued treatment and rehabilitation. The Miss Universe Organization has pledged to cover all medical, hospital, and rehabilitation costs, as well as ongoing expenses for her mother and sister, who have stayed at her bedside in Thailand since the accident.
“From the moment the incident occurred, the Miss Universe Organization has stood beside Gabrielle and her family as if she were our own,” the statement read. “We have assumed full and immediate responsibility without hesitation.” The organization also strongly pushed back against online speculation blaming Henry for the fall, calling such claims “entirely inaccurate” and emphasizing that it has never attributed any fault to her.
Henry’s family expressed deep gratitude to the people of Jamaica, the global Miss Universe community, and supporters worldwide for the overwhelming love and prayers during this difficult time.
Viral videos of the incident show the horrifying moment Henry stepped off the edge of the elevated runway, disappearing from view as screams erupted from the audience. Contestants and spectators rushed toward her as medical personnel carried her out on a stretcher.
The tragedy has unfolded against the backdrop of what many are calling the most chaotic and controversial Miss Universe in decades.
This year’s competition, co-hosted in Thailand under a partnership with Miss Grand International, was plagued by explosive backstage drama from the very beginning. During the official sashing ceremony on November 4, Miss Grand International president Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly humiliated Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, calling her “dumb” and “dummy” on a livestream for allegedly failing to post enough promotional content about Thailand. He threatened to disqualify any contestant who defended her. In a stunning act of solidarity, Bosch walked out—followed by more than two dozen other delegates, including the reigning Miss Universe, Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark. The mass walkout left rows of empty chairs and turned the ceremony into an international scandal.
Despite the turmoil—or perhaps because of it—Bosch went on to win the crown on November 21, delivering an emotional victory speech about resilience and sisterhood. Her triumph was seen by many as poetic justice.
However, the controversies refused to die down. Miss Haiti, Melissa “Queenie” Sapini, emerged as one of the most vocal critics, describing the entire experience as “absolutely diabolical.” In interviews and an open letter, she accused the organization of rigged voting, conflicts of interest among judges, racial bias in selections, emotional abuse, and unsafe conditions that left contestants feeling traumatized. She warned that without major reform, young women may no longer want to participate in future pageants.
Further darkening the event were legal troubles surrounding the pageant’s leadership. Days after the finale, a Thai court issued an arrest warrant for co-owner Anne Jakrajutatip over alleged fraud tied to her company’s finances. Meanwhile, Mexican co-owner Raúl Rocha Cantú had his assets frozen by authorities investigating links to organized crime.
Two judges withdrew before the final, with one publicly alleging outright rigging and racist favoritism. Reports also surfaced of multiple contestants being hospitalized during the competition due to poor living conditions and inadequate safety protocols—the very issues now spotlighted by Henry’s accident.
As Dr. Gabrielle Henry prepares to return home to continue her recovery, her story has become the heartbreaking human face of a pageant that promised empowerment but delivered chaos, injury, and division. What was meant to be a celebration of beauty, intelligence, and global unity has instead sparked urgent questions about duty of care, transparency, and respect within one of the world’s most iconic institutions.
For now, the thoughts of millions remain with Henry and her family. Supporters around the world continue to send messages of hope, prayer, and strength—reminding the Miss Universe community that behind every crown is a real woman whose health and dignity must always come first.
