Mario Búcaro has stepped down as CEO of the Miss Universe organisation, only a month after assuming the role.
The pageant announced on Friday that Búcaro, 48, has “concluded his tenure.”
He had taken over in November following Jakapong “Anne” Jakrajutatip’s resignation in June.
In a statement, Búcaro said his time with the organisation “represented an invaluable period of learning” and praised the opportunity to work “alongside extraordinary women, exceptional professionals, and a global community that genuinely believes in the empowerment of women.”
He added that he has always sought to “leave a positive legacy with every person with whom I have collaborated.”
Búcaro’s resignation comes after several controversies surrounding the recent Miss Universe competition.
This included a viral confrontation between pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil and Fátima Bosch, who was crowned Miss Universe 2025, as well as claims from contestants about illness from “box lunches” and red flags in competition logistics.
The organisation denied the allegations, stating all evaluations followed “established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols” and that no impromptu jury was used.
Búcaro took the role over from the previous CEO, Jakrajutatip, who faced an arrest warrant in late November for alleged financial fraud at her company, JKN Global Group, which owns the Miss Universe pageant.
