A storm of controversy has erupted at the Pearl Resort & Spa in Fiji following the recent crowning of Manshika Prasad as Miss Fiji, with allegations of vote-rigging, a shadowy figure, and a dramatic reversal of results making headlines.
The turmoil began shortly after the 24-year-old MBA student received her crown, only to learn that her title was under dispute.
Two days post-crowning, the Miss Universe Fiji (MUF) organization issued a press release claiming a “serious breach of principles” and announced revised results.
The decision to unseat Prasad and replace her with runner-up Nadine Roberts— a 30-year-old model from Sydney—shocked the beauty community and sparked an uproar.
According to the MUF’s statement, the voting process had been compromised, favoring Prasad for financial gain linked to the event’s management.
Prasad expressed her distress, stating she would take a break from social media and hinted that much remained unknown to the public.
Allegations further intensified when it was revealed that Nadine Roberts is married to Jamie McIntyre, a controversial Australian businessman with connections to Lux Projects, the property development firm that purchased the Miss Universe license for Fiji.
Eyewitness accounts from judges suggest the competition had proceeded smoothly until the day after Prasad’s crowning, where strange behaviors and unexpected absenteeism from key personnel raised suspicions.
After intense scrutiny, it was discovered that the absence of a proper voting structure had allowed Roberts to claim victory through Lux Projects’ intercession, leading to considerable backlash from judges who felt blindsided by the manipulations.
In an unexpected twist, following pressure from the Miss Universe Organization, Manshika Prasad has now been reinstated as Miss Fiji 2024. Expressing her joy on social media, Prasad thanked her supporters and celebrated the resolution of the tumultuous affair.
While Prasad’s re-crowning has brought a degree of closure, Nadine Roberts is still asserting her claim as the “real Miss Universe Fiji 2024.” Judges involved in the pageant reported receiving “cease and desist” letters from Lux Projects, indicating that tensions remain high.
Experts suggest that this incident highlights a troubling trend in beauty pageants, particularly in economically challenged regions, where lucrative stakes give rise to controversies fueled by social media.
