Miss Universe contestant Italy Mora has been disqualified from the pageant amid allegations of visiting her boyfriend’s hotel room without authorization.
The young lady who was representing Panama, had been preparing to compete alongside 130 contestants from around the world in Mexico City’s upcoming November 16 finale.
However, the excitement surrounding her participation has now shifted to controversy, leading to her unexpected departure from the competition.
The Miss Universe organization announced Mora’s removal following what they described as an “exhaustive evaluation by our disciplinary commission,” though they did not detail the reasons.
Local reports quickly filled in gaps, suggesting her dismissal was due to an unapproved visit to her boyfriend, Juan Abadía, in his hotel room—an act viewed as a breach of pageant rules.
Mora, however, has countered these claims, saying the real reason for her departure stemmed from a heated dispute with César Anel Rodríguez, director of Miss Universe Panama.
According to Mora, the argument arose over the organization’s lack of support, forcing Abadía to step in and provide essentials the pageant allegedly neglected, such as food, hotel fees, and a $7,000 Carolina Herrera dress.
The businessman and trainer reportedly travelled to Mexico to assist Mora, who felt the organization’s resources were lacking.
Addressing the rumours, Mora remarked, “There’s a lot of speculation that needs to be cleared up because it’s impacting my reputation, and emotionally, it’s been difficult. If I weren’t with my boyfriend, I’d be struggling even more.”
Although she sought to have the pageant reverse its decision, the organizers remained firm, later issuing a statement emphasizing their commitment to fairness and transparency: “Our No. 1 priority remains the welfare and transparency for all of our candidates, who exemplify diversity, talent, and dedication.”
Despite her efforts, Mora ultimately agreed to “take responsibility for my actions and accept the consequences.”
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