Beneath the blinding spotlights and crystal-encrusted gowns of the 74th Miss Universe pageant, a scandal of epic proportions is threatening to steal the show from the contestants themselves.
While the world waits with bated breath for the grand finale at Thailand's Impact Challenger Hall on Friday, 21 November, the real competition seems to be taking place backstage, where allegations of rigging, abrupt resignations, and illicit recordings are shattering the illusion of grace.
