Miss Universe Kenya, Irene Mukii, has officially parted ways with the Miss Universe Kenya Organization.
In a statement shared on social media, Mukii announced her decision to relinquish her title and sever ties with the organization.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to send in my termination notice to the Miss Universe Kenya Organization.”
She also emphasized her commitment to community service through her initiative, Inspirene Revolution while expressing gratitude to fans who supported her journey during the Miss Universe 2024 competition.
“To all of you who have shown support, thank you.”
This announcement adds to a year already fraught with controversy for the global Miss Universe pageant.
The 2024 competition, held on November 16 in Mexico City, was overshadowed by scandals that called into question the pageant’s values and procedures.
Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark, crowned Miss Universe 2024, faced widespread backlash shortly after her victory for a controversial lip-sync video.
The video showed her singing along to Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” during a visit to the Empire State Building in New York, a song which includes a racial slur.
The incident sparked multiple accusations of cultural insensitivity and drew heated online debates about the role of public figures in understanding cultural nuances during foreign visits.
Other controversies included notable withdrawals and replacements from the pageant such as that of South Africa’s representative, Mia le Roux, who exited the competition due to health issues just days before its conclusion.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshin, the competition’s first runner-up and the highest-ranking African contestant of 2024, faced scrutiny over her nationality after it was revealed that she had also participated in the Miss South Africa pageant earlier this year.
While Irene Mukii has yet to elaborate on the reasons for her departure, her decision and the ongoing controversies highlight growing tensions within the Miss Universe platform, both locally and globally.
The Miss Universe Kenya Organization has yet to release a statement addressing her exit.
The post Miss Universe Kenya exits amid global pageant controversies appeared first on KBC.
