MISS Grand International (MGI) founder Nawat Itsaragrisil appears to have banned his “friend” MJ Lastimosa from attending the Thailand-based competition, as he accused the actress-beauty queen of “laughing” at and “joking” about the beauty pageant.
Days after his tirades against the Philippines’ MGI bet Nikki de Moura for allegedly being “very unprofessional,” Itsaragrisil went on another TikTok live and spoke about his ill feelings for the Miss Universe Philippines 2014.
“I met her many times. [I offer] her a lot of things and she always said, ‘Oh, Miss Grand is number one — huge production,” Itsaragrisil said of Lastimosa, as seen in the video reuploaded by online pageant community Pageant Talk on Facebook. “When I went to Manila, any time we keep calling — we had a good [friendship] and I help her a lot.”
Itsaragrisil stated that he even met with Lastimosa after the recent Miss Grand International coronation night in Vietnam.
“I am very sincere to meet you, to talk to you but if you’re not sincere and you act different way — when you meet me; you sweet talk when you want something from me… And after that, what did you say? What did you question? What [were] you laughing [at]? What [were] you joking [about]?” the MGI founder continued.
Itsaragrisil did not immediately expound on the incident he was pertaining to. Meanwhile, the beauty pageant community has speculated that the MGI founder’s sentiment might have stemmed from Lastimosa’s “The Secret Lounge” interview with transgender beauty queen Maki Gingoyon in September.
Lastimosa asked Gingoyon what she thinks is the “worst pageant in the Philippines,” to which the latter replied, “Miss Grand.” Lastimosa made the follow-up question: “International or Philippines?” and Gingoyon answered, “Philippines…and International,” then the two of them burst into laughter.
“The beauty is not from the body and the face. The beauty of the people must come from the inside and brain. Now I know you’re not beauty at all,” Itsaragrisil addressed Lastimosa. “I think we are no more; [no more] relationship between MJ and our organization and myself. Don’t come to Miss Grand anymore. We don’t know each other from now [on]. I don’t want to meet the people like you. [It’s] below standard.”
On Saturday, Nov. 4, Lastimosa, through her Facebook page, reminded her followers that the opinions expressed by her guests in “The Secret Lounge” do not reflect the hosts and its production, while quipping if her disclaimer needs a translation.
“May disclaimer naman ‘yung show namin mare baka kelangan lang i-translate. Pagod ang kumare nyo (Friend, our show has a disclaimer. Maybe it warrants such translation. Your friend is tired already),” she said in the caption. (Anne Pasajol © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
