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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177995959316020260528 (6).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Judge Omar Harfouch (wearing black) with MGI founder Nawat Itsaragrisil during the first preliminary round of MGI All Stars. <em>MGI/Facebook </em></span></span></span></div><p>One of the judges of the all-star edition of Miss Grand International has addressed the backlash over the &quot;low&quot; scores he gave during the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2026/5/28/mgi-all-stars-how-ph-bets-fared-in-round-1-of-preliminary-competition-1235">first round of the preliminary competition. </a></p><p>In an Instagram post on Thursday, May 28, musician Omar Harfouch stood by his judging process, citing his years of experience working in pageants and modeling competitions. </p><p>&quot;I understand the public&#x27;s frustration with the scores I gave today. However, for me, judging is not just about tonight. This is a preselection process that continues tomorrow and on the 30th,&quot; he said. </p><p>The second round of the MGI All Stars prelims will be held tonight, May 28, with the coronation set on May 30 in Thailand.</p><p>Harfouch stressed that he &quot;must remain consistent&quot; in his evaluations of the candidates. </p><p>&quot;This is not a one-time decision. The public remembers, compares, and expects coherence,&quot; he said. &quot;For me, consistency and logic in judging will always come before emotion.&quot;</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DY2bJMsJnXG/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A20854411.600000143%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Many pageant fans called out Harfouch online for giving noticeably lower scores to several candidates during the first round of the MGI All Stars prelims. </p><p>An example of this is Miranda Aengmany of Laos, who received a score of 1 out of 10 in both the evening gown and &quot;bare face&quot; segments from the Lebanese-French pianist and composer.</p><p>Harfouch made headlines last year after resigning as a judge of Miss Universe 2025,<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2025/11/24/-no-judge-resigned-miss-universe-president-speaks-up-amid-rigging-allegations-1405"> alleging that the pageant was rigged</a> in favor of Mexico&#x27;s Fatima Bosch.  </p><p>Bosch strongly denied the allegations, saying these were a result of a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2025/12/3/-campaign-of-hate-miss-universe-fatima-bosch-denies-rigging-claims-1422">&quot;campaign of hate.&quot;</a></p><p>Aside from Harfouch, the other judges of MGI All Stars include Filipino shoe entrepreneur Jojo Bragais, Miss Grand International winners Abena Appiah and Isabella Menin, former Miss Universe queens Natalie Glebova and Lupita Jones, environmental activist Psi Samut Scott, and beauty pageant entrepreneur Osmel Sousa.</p>

<p>One of the judges of the all-star edition of Miss Grand International has addressed the backlash over the "low" scores he gave during the first round of the preliminary competition.</p>

One of the judges of the all-star edition of Miss Grand International has addressed the backlash over the "low" scores he gave during the first round of the preliminary competition.

MGI All Stars judge Omar Harfouch addresses backlash over 'low' prelim scores

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MGI All Stars judge Omar Harfouch addresses backlash over 'low' prelim scores

ABS-CBN News

Published May 28, 2026 05:13 PM PHT

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