Miss Jamaica Files Negligence Lawsuit Over Pageant Fall That Caused Brain Injury
Gabrielle Henry, the former Miss Jamaica, is suing the Miss Universe Organization and its parent companies for negligence after a fall during the 2025 Miss Universe preliminary competition. She alleges she fell through an unmarked stage opening and suffered a traumatic brain injury, including a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which has prevented her from resuming her medical residency. The lawsuit also claims intense lighting impaired her vision and contributed to the accident.
The lawsuit, filed September 21 in Delaware Superior Court, stems from Henry's fall during the November 2025 preliminary evening gown competition. She reportedly dropped roughly five feet through an uncovered stage opening that housed lighting equipment and concrete, resulting in multiple brain injuries including a subarachnoid hemorrhage and frontal lobe contusion. Henry spent nearly a month hospitalized.
Prior to the incident, Henry practiced as an ophthalmologist, but her ongoing neurological and cognitive symptoms have prevented her from returning to her medical residency. The Miss Universe Organization has stated it was not legally obligated to cover her expenses but paid for hospital care in Thailand and follow-up treatment in Jamaica, and also offered Henry a goodwill ambassador position, which went unanswered.
This case could influence how major entertainment organizations approach venue safety and liability, particularly for international events where multiple production entities share responsibility. It may also prompt broader conversations about the physical risks contestants face in high-stakes competitions, and how young professionals with promising careers navigate recovery from traumatic injuries. The outcome could set precedents for how parent companies oversee local production partners, potentially affecting safety standards across the pageant industry and similar live-event productions.