Miss Jamaica falls off Miss Universe stage
Dr. Gabrielle Henry fell off the Miss Universe stage in Thailand. Officials said she suffered “minor injuries.”
The Miss Universe Organization has provided an update after Miss Jamaica, Dr. Gabrielle Henry, was hospitalized following a horrific fall.
In a press release on Monday, Dec. 8, the organization and Henry’s family said the fall left him with an intracranial hemorrhage with loss of consciousness, broken bones, facial lacerations, and other serious injuries. Henry fell off the stage while walking during the preliminary competition held in Thailand on November 19, shocking the other contestants and causing widespread concern.
After suffering a precarious fall from a high stage, Henry was immediately admitted to an intensive care unit in Bangkok where he remained in critical condition with continued neurological monitoring, according to the release. She will continue to require 24-hour professional supervision, the organization confirmed.
USA TODAY has reached out to the Miss Universe Organization for further comment.
Henry will return to Jamaica in the coming days, the statement said, adding that he will be flown directly to a hospital in his home country, accompanied by a full medical escort team, for continued treatment and recovery.
The statement denied reports that Henry was the cause of the fall, and said the organization had paid for all of Henry’s hospital, medical and rehabilitation costs in Thailand, as well as the accommodation and living expenses of his mother and sister. The group also said it was funding Henry’s medically escorted flight back to Jamaica and has pledged to cover all future medical costs from the incident.
“The Henry family is deeply grateful to the Miss Universe Organization for their unwavering compassion, presence and love,” the release said. “So far, their responses go beyond their professional responsibilities and reflect their dedication to and protection of their families.”
Henry’s fall occurred during the evening gown competition, when she was walking on stage in a long, flowing orange dress. The 28-year-old doctor and advocate was scheduled to compete in the 74th annual competition on Nov. 21, but it was already riddled with scandal.
In early November, the Miss Universe Thailand organization was criticized after Miss Universe Thailand representative Nawat Isaragrisil called Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch “stupid” during a live-streamed speech to contestants on November 4. Bosch subsequently characterized the incident, which included a strike by fellow contestants, as “unacceptable”. Despite Isara Grisil’s tearful apology, pageant president Cantu responded to the backlash by announcing a series of sanctions restricting and almost completely excluding Isara Grisil from the 74th pageant’s events.
Then, on November 18th, the contest judge abruptly withdrew before the event. Composer Omar Harhoush made several accusations about the integrity of the global Miss Universe pageant, including that an “impromptu jury” selected the finalists without the presence of eight “real judges” and that he had a “rude conversation” with Cantu regarding the “lack of transparency in the Miss Universe voting process.” The organization has publicly denied his accusations.
Contributor: Taijuan Moorman, Edward Segarra and Anthony Robredo, america today
