Former Miss Universe Jamaica sues pageant organisation after falling on stage

The Independent

Former Miss Universe Jamaica Gabrielle Henry has sued the Miss Universe Organisation nearly a year after she fell through an opening in the stage during the 2025 competition in Thailand, leaving her with serious brain injuries.

Henry filed the lawsuit on Monday in Delaware Superior Court against the Miss Universe Organisation and two related companies, JKN Legacy Inc and Legacy Holding Group USA, according to People, which first reported the case.

The lawsuit has alleged negligence, premises liability, negligent hiring, retention, and supervision, as well as negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The fall took place last year on 19 November, during the preliminary competition for the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok. Henry, who was representing Jamaica, was walking in the evening gown segment when, according to her complaint, she fell about five feet through an “unmarked and uncovered opening in the stage”.

The complaint has alleged that the opening contained lighting equipment and concrete and powerful lighting directed towards her made it difficult to see the stage properly.

She lost consciousness after the fall, and suffered a traumatic brain injury, including an acute subarachnoid haemorrhage, frontal lobe haemorrhagic contusion, and subdural haemorrhage. She was hospitalised from 19 November to 10 December.

At the time, a statement from the Miss Universe Organisation and Henry’s family said she had suffered an “intracranial hemorrhage with loss of consciousness, a fracture, facial lacerations”. She remained in intensive care in Bangkok under constant neurological monitoring, according to the statement.

Henry was an ophthalmologist at the time of the accident and was pursuing a medical residency. Her suit says her injuries left her “unable to resume her medical residency” at the time, and continues to suffer “neurological and cognitive symptoms”, according to the lawsuit, requiring “ongoing care, rehabilitation, and follow-ups”.

She has claimed that the ensuing media coverage of the “most traumatic moment” of her life caused “severe emotional distress”, and she is seeking damages for medical treatment, rehabilitation, emotional distress, loss of earning capacity, and professional opportunities.

In her suit, Henry has claimed that multiple contestants had raised concerns about the lighting and staging, and only added “bright white lights to illuminate the edging of the stage” after Henry’s fall.

The suit has accused the Miss Universe Organisation and its parent companies of “wanton, reckless, and in conscious disregard of the safety of Plaintiff and the other contestants.”

The Miss Universe Organisation has disputed her account, telling People in a statement that they had not been served with any lawsuit and were “therefore not in a position to comment on claims we have not seen”.

The organisation also said responsibility for last year’s competition in Thailand, “including the venue, the stage, and on-site safety” rested with MGI and Miss Universe Thailand, under the direction of Thai businessman and Miss Grand International founder Nawat Itsaragrisil.

It added that the local organisers had failed to cover Henry’s hospital expenses and had “left her unattended”, prompting the Miss Universe Organisation to step in and pay them “despite having no obligation to do so”.

The organisation said it also covered Henry’s treatment at a specialised hospital in Jamaica and had “offered Ms Henry a place on the Miss Universe team as goodwill ambassador”. “We have not received a response to that offer,” it said.

The Independent has reached out to the Miss Universe Organisation for comment.

Henry has spent much of the past year away from the spotlight while recovering. In May 2026, she made her first public appearance since the accident at the Integrity Children’s Fund’s Dinner en Rouge Gala in Atlanta, where she spoke about her “prolonged recovery”.

In August, she returned to the Miss Universe Jamaica stage to crown her successor, Celene Hall.

The Miss Universe Organisation has disputed her account, telling People in a statement that they had not been served with any lawsuit and were “therefore not in a position to comment on claims we have not seen”.

The organisation also said responsibility for last year’s competition in Thailand, “including the venue, the stage, and on-site safety” rested with MGI and Miss Universe Thailand, under the direction of Thai businessman and Miss Grand International founder Nawat Itsaragrisil.

It added that the local organisers had failed to cover Henry’s hospital expenses and had “left her unattended”, prompting the Miss Universe Organisation to step in and pay them “despite having no obligation to do so”.

The organisation said it also covered Henry’s treatment at a specialised hospital in Jamaica and had “offered Ms Henry a place on the Miss Universe team as goodwill ambassador”. “We have not received a response to that offer,” it said.

The Independent has reached out to the Miss Universe Organisation for comment.

Henry has spent much of the past year away from the spotlight while recovering. In May 2026, she made her first public appearance since the accident at the Integrity Children’s Fund’s Dinner en Rouge Gala in Atlanta, where she spoke about her “prolonged recovery”.

In August, she returned to the Miss Universe Jamaica stage to crown her successor, Celene Hall.

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