Rachel Gupta, the first Indian to win Miss Grand International, has given up her crown just months after her historic win. The 20-year-old model from Jalandhar said she left because of “broken promises” and a “toxic environment.”
Rachel won the international title in Bangkok last October after taking home the Miss Grand India crown earlier in 2024. Her win was celebrated across the country, marking a proud moment for Indian pageantry.
But on Wednesday, she shocked fans with an emotional post saying things had gone wrong behind the scenes. “What should have been a dream became painful,” she wrote. She said more details would come in a full video soon.
The Miss Grand International Organisation fired back with a public statement on Instagram. They claimed Rachel broke her contract by skipping important events and joining other projects without permission.
The group announced her title had been officially terminated and asked her to return the crown within 30 days. They say rules are rules, and Rachel didn’t follow them.
Rachel first made headlines in 2022, winning a global beauty title in Paris at just 18. Her team says she’ll speak soon and share the full story at a press conference. Watch this space.