PUBLISHED ONOctober 23, 2026 6:19 AMBYCarol OngSlightly over a week after being crowned Miss Universe Singapore 2026, Vion Erico Tan has received some disappointing news.
The beauty queen will no longer be competing at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico slated for Nov 24, following an ongoing dispute over franchise rights.
"I've just received the news, and honestly, it has hit me harder than I can put into words," the 22-year-old wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday (Oct 21).
Reflecting on the experience, Vion shared that the pageant journey was "never just about a crown or competition".
Rather, it was a meaningful opportunity to represent Singapore on the international stage, sharing its culture, stories and spirit.
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Thanking everyone for their support, the Miss Universe Singapore 2026 winner said that while she is unsure of what the next chapter holds, she is determined not to let the situation falter her.
"If anything, it has made me more determined to show the world what Singapore is capable of," she said.
"Representing Singapore was never just about being given a stage. It is about what we carry in our hearts, the people who stand behind us, and the courage to keep going even when the path ahead changes unexpectedly."
Vion is among six Southeast Asian representatives affected, including Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Laos.
The decision came after the Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) said on Sept 18 that franchise agreements involving the countries, executed by Miss Universe Eastern (MUE), were not valid.
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"Miss Universe Eastern Pte Ltd has no authority, whether independently or through any purported arrangement to grant, assign, transfer, or otherwise confer any license or operational rights concerning the Miss Universe brand, and no valid legal or contractual licensing framework is currently in place authorising it to do so," said the organiser in a statement.
It added that only JKN Universe LLC, which owns and operates the brand, has the authority to grant or authorise any rights related to the international pageant or its related intellectual property.
The claims, however, were disputed by Miss Grand International (MGI), led by Thai businessman Nawat Itsaragrisil, who also heads MUE.
In an official statement on Wednesday, MGI maintained the validity of its rights pertaining to the affected countries, adding that they were "lawfully obtained through valid contractual agreements".
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"MGI does not accept that the public declaration concerning the six territories constitutes, by itself, a legally effective termination of MGI's contractual rights. MGI expressly reserves all rights concerning the validity, continuation, extension and enforceability of those contractual arrangements."
That said, the Southeast Asian organiser also announced that it would not be sending the contestants to participate in the Puerto Rico finals due to the uncertainty surrounding the situation.
"MGI has determined that it is no longer reasonably possible to send the six representatives to participate in the 75th Miss Universe Competition under conditions that adequately protect their status, dignity, safety and equal treatment."
It stressed that the decision did not constitute a voluntary withdrawal or surrender of its contractual rights.
The Miss Universe Singapore Organisation (MUSO) also expressed its support for MGI's non-participation in the upcoming global pageant.
It also took the opportunity to share its thoughts on the situation.
"This development is deeply disappointing, especially for our reigning Miss Universe Singapore 2026, Vion Erico Tan, who has dedicated her time, energy and determination towards fulfilling her dream of representing Singapore on the international stage," it said in a statement on Thursday.
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MUSO added that the newly crowned beauty queen had been actively preparing for the Puerto Rico finals, and was "fully ready to carry Singapore with pride".
Thanking Nawat for prioritising the well-being of the representatives, the organisation also said: "We believe that Miss Universe should be a global platform that celebrates women's empowerment, equality, diversity and opportunity."
"No woman who has rightully earned the honour of representing her country should be denied a fair chance to compete because of circumstances beyond her control."
And while Vion will not be participating in the global finals, MUSO said her Miss Universe journey is "far from over".
Instead, she will be continuing her preparations in hopes of representing Singapore at Miss Universe 2027.
"We look forward with renewed hope and excitement to seeing Vion proudly carry Singapore's flag on the international stage in 2027, where every representative is given the dignity, respect and fair opportunity she deserves," said MUSO.
Vion, an entrepreneur and model, was crowned Miss Universe Singapore 2026 on Oct 13.
She was competing with eight other finalists for an opportunity to represent Singapore at the 75th Miss Universe finals in Puerto Rico then.
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