Magali Benejam, the 30-year-old Argentine model who secured the Miss Universe Argentina 2024 title in May and placed in the top 12 at the international contest, has been stripped of her crown following allegations of fraud. The Miss Universe Organization announced the decision on January 2, stating it was necessary to protect the integrity of the competition and uphold its commitment to high standards of conduct.
Benejam stirred controversy after publicly questioning the legitimacy of the Miss Universe 2024 competition, held in Mexico in November. In an interview with content creator King Lucho, reported by The Latin Times, she accused the competition of favoritism and alleged that the results were predetermined to favor Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig, who made history as Denmark’s first-ever winner. Benejam claimed the winner had “at least three layers of security” in the final days leading up to the event and suggested that speculation about the pre-selection of the winner began 10 days before the finale.
She also criticized the behavior of some contestants, accusing Miss Dominican Republic, Celinee Santos, of interrupting her during group activities. Santos, who reached the top 30, had been praised for her strong performance in the preliminary rounds.
Benejam further alleged that the judges were visibly uncomfortable with the final results, claiming they exchanged surprised glances during the announcement. Her statements have cast a shadow over the pageant’s reputation, raising questions about transparency in its processes.
Despite the controversy, the Miss Universe Organization reaffirmed its support for Victoria Kjær Theilvig’s historic win while emphasizing its commitment to fairness and integrity in the competition.
