Although the specific reason for her disqualification has not been officially disclosed, sources suggest that it may be related to an unauthorized visit to her boyfriend's hotel room, as reported by the New York Post. It is alleged that Ms. Mora entered the hotel room of her partner, Juan Abadia, in Mexico without the necessary authorization from the event organizers.
Ms. Mora, however, contests these claims, asserting that her disqualification stemmed from a confrontation with Cesar Anel Rodriguez, the director of Miss Universe Panama, regarding the event's poor organization. She stated that her boyfriend was present during this disagreement. Tensions escalated when Mr. Abadia revealed that he had been covering her expenses, including a $7,000 Carolina Herrera dress, due to the organization's alleged oversight.
"Cesar mentioned he didn't have the funds to cover the hotel or makeup expenses," Ms. Mora explained.
The situation intensified when pageant staff found Ms. Mora with Mr. Abadia, leading to accusations of an unauthorized visit to his room.
Despite her attempts to appeal to pageant officials, the decision remained unchanged. Ms. Mora expressed her disappointment, stating that she had followed instructions without anticipating the repercussions. "There’s a lot of speculation that needs to be clarified because it’s affecting my reputation, and emotionally, it’s been challenging. If I weren’t with my boyfriend, I would be struggling even more," she remarked.
The Miss Universe organization has refused to reverse their decision, and Panama will not be appointing a replacement contestant. The pageant management indicated that Ms. Mora underwent a thorough review by their disciplinary commission regarding the alleged "personal error."
Miss Universe representatives issued a statement regarding her dismissal. "We want to emphasize that this decision was made with the highest regard for everyone involved. Our primary focus continues to be the well-being and transparency for all our candidates, who represent a rich tapestry of diversity, talent, and commitment," they stated.
The 19-year-old beauty pageant contestant was set to participate with 130 other international delegates at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City on November 16. Following her disqualification, the Miss Panama Organization issued a statement indicating that they had facilitated her return to Panama.