Latest news with #toxicenvironment
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Beauty queen dramatically steps down as Miss Grand International after citing 'toxic environment'
A beauty queen has dramatically stepped down as Miss Grand International after just eight months - citing a 'toxic environment.' Rachel Gupta, an Indian model and actress, who made history as the first Indian to win the Miss Grand International title in October 2024, has handed back her crown. The 21-year-old claimed she endured a toxic environment, body shaming, and unfulfilled promises by the pageant's organizers. In a 56-minute YouTube video called 'The Truth About Miss Grand International – My Story,' the model broke down in tears as she shared her experience of her short reign. She said she was subjected to demeaning comments about her body, including an incident where a representative allegedly pinched her and told her to ' lose weight here and here.' Rachel described it as 'so embarrassing' and said it made her feel 'so small and so bad.' 'I realized they would never, never support me, and I was completely on my own,' she said. Gupta also alleged that she was made to live in substandard conditions - first in a cramped hotel room and later in a dilapidated house in Bangkok without basic amenities. She claimed that the organization failed to provide the promised financial and logistical support, forcing her parents to assist her financially. The former Miss Grand International also accused the pageant of exploiting her by making her sell products on TikTok. 'They made us sell these cheap, tacky products on TikTok like we were salesgirls,' she revealed. In response to her video, the Miss Grand International organization dismissed Gupta's claims as 'false, misleading, and defamatory,' in an Instagram post. The organization accused her of relying on 'emotional appeals and tearful storytelling without any physical evidence to support her claims.' It also released statements and evidence, including photos of her accommodations and email correspondence, to counter her allegations. The organization officially terminated her title, citing her failure to fulfill her duties and accusing her of seeking inappropriate favors, such as free cosmetic surgery for relatives. Rachel warned future contestants of systemic problems within the pageant, stating, 'I don't think they can ever change this.' Christine Juliane Opiaza from the Philippines is set to be crowned as Gupta's replacement on June 3. has reached out to both parties for further comment. Rachel's resignation follows a similar exit by England's Miss World contestant Milla Magee. Milla, 24, had initially blamed her abrupt departure from the pageant in Hyderabad, India, on 'personal reasons.' But now the truth behind her exit has been revealed – and it paints a disturbing picture of a pageant she claims is 'outdated' and 'stuck in the past.' The history-making beauty – the first Miss England in the competition's 74-year history to resign – said she had gone in with hopes of making a difference. 'I went there to make a difference but we had to sit like performing monkeys,' she told The Sun, accusing organizers of turning her into little more than eye candy for wealthy male sponsors. Milla revealed contestants were ordered to doll up in heavy make-up and evening gowns from morning to night – even at breakfast – and were paraded at events purely to charm deep-pocketed backers. She said the experience made her feel 'like a prostitute' who was being 'farmed out for entertainment.'
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE RHOBH Kyle Richards' secret plan for payback after 'vile' online abuse over marriage trouble and balding daughter
star Kyle Richards wants to quit her Los Angeles life and move to a farm to escape social media trolls, she revealed to in an exclusive interview. The entrepreneur and reality star, 56, is ready to ditch her $8.5million Encino mansion and her fame from the long-running hit Bravo series, to get 'off the grid' due to online attacks, she said. Richards, who has over four million Instagram followers, has faced abuse on social media over her separation from LA celebrity realtor Mauricio Umansky and mean comments over her daughter Sophia experiencing balding after taking a weight loss drug. Her RHOBH co-star Teddi Mellencamp was even targeted during her fight with stage four cancer and brain tumors, Richards said. 'Social media is just such a scary place,' she told 'It's so toxic, it's so negative. I can't stand it. 'I've been telling my friends lately, that's it, I'm moving to a farm. I am going off the grid. The reality star told that she's said to her friends in the past that she's ready to sell her $8.5million Encino mansion and move to a farm 'I'm going to live off the land. I don't want to go on any social media.' Richards revealed she sometimes thinks to herself 'Oh, it's fun', posts a picture and then is appalled by a 'negative and toxic' reaction. 'I think about the young children and teens, how it affects their mental health,' she said. 'It's scary, social media. 'It's very unhealthy. I know there can be a lot of good things. A lot of people make money on social media and when we have something positive to share or we can bring awareness it is great. 'But there's a very dark side to it that is very upsetting to me as a mom and as a human being.' Richards is sickened at reading vile comments about her family and friends even when they post positive or inspiring news. The actress was stunned that Mellencamp, who has stage four cancer and recently underwent emergency surgery to remove multiple brain tumors, received mixed comments on her fight. 'People will be so nice and supportive and then they'll be mean about something else,' Richards said. 'Why can't people just all come together and be kind? If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all. 'Even Teddi's had comments. What is wrong with people?' Richards said she tries to 'tune that stuff out' and focus on 'how to use your platform for the good when you can'. 'I tell myself every day, these comments do not reflect the truth of what everybody thinks. We have to tell ourselves that all the time,' she said. Richards expressed she is proud that her four daughters have ignored the hatred and said they have trusted advice from their parents on how to deal with internet trolls and bullying posts. This month her daughter Sophia Umansky, 25, told naysayers to 'calm down' after she was criticized for suffering hair loss from taking the weight-loss drug Mounjaro. In 2022, youngest daughter Portia, then 14, was 'harassed' over her appearance on RHOBH and her social media posts, but her mother said she refused to take comments seriously. When the teen posted a picture on Instagram of herself on a family trip to London, one commenter wrote 'get the f*** outta here' and another wrote 'f*** off'. 'It really has to start with what you teach them at home and how that impacts them and how not letting outside forces affect them,' her mother said. 'I'm fortunate that my daughters are very confident. 'They are bullied on there all the time. They let it roll off their shoulders and it doesn't bother them, but they've also seen their mom be bullied. 'So not everyone's in that situation. So, I really think it's how you talk to your kids at home. 'Kids shouldn't have phones really young, and as long as you keep them off social media as long as possible. It's getting harder and harder these days, but I think it really starts at home, that conversation.' Richards spoke at a fundraising event for the Women's Cancer Research Fund, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills on April 29. The event honored campaigners and gave tributes to cancer survivors and the memory of those impacted by cancer. Richards' mother died of breast cancer in 2002. For 26 years, the event has brought together leaders in entertainment, cancer research and corporate philanthropy to raise funds for pioneering cancer research conducted at leading medical and academic institutions in California and across the US. Richards attended, proudly supporting Mellencamp as well as actress and activist Olivia Munn, who received the 'Courage Award' for selflessly sharing her ongoing breast cancer journey. Richards said a positive about her reality TV career and having millions of Instagram followers has been encouraging women to get cancer screenings by getting mammograms on camera Richards said a positive outcome of her reality TV career and having 4.3 million Instagram followers has been encouraging women to get regular cancer screenings. 'That's why one of the reasons on the Housewives I go and have mammograms on camera, is to remind women to go get their mammograms and about early detection,' she said. 'My mom didn't have a mammogram for five years. If she had, she'd maybe still be here today. 'So whenever you can use your platform to bring awareness is huge and to inspire people and give hope.' Offline, Richards has also helped friends with cancer-related issues. She told People Magazine in 2023 that after country music star Morgan Wade had a preventative double mastectomy, Richards helped connect her with the nonprofit Mission Plasticos, which provides no-cost reconstructive surgical care to people without health insurance or who are under-insured. Richards also gushed about her Real Housewives co-star and cancer sufferer Mellencamp. 'Teddi being so strong as she is and going through what she's gone through and the severity of what she's gone through, and to be able to show up here and give people hope and bring awareness, I mean, she's inundated with people, who are saying that because of her they're going to get a full body check,' Richards told 'Everybody I know tells me that and she's saving lives by talking about it and by showing up and just being who she is. She's giving people so much hope too.' The WCRF, a program of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, supports the advancement of the world's most promising research directed at the development of innovative approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and metastasis of breast cancer.
