Slovak Republic drops Miss Universe franchise over Miss Earth

Former Miss Universe Slovak Republic 1994 Silvia Lakatosova, who finished Top 6 finalist at Miss Universe 1994 held in Manila, Philippines. She was the National Director for Miss Universe Slovak Republic for 24 years and has decided to drop the Miss Universe franchise for the Slovak Republic, according to the Slovak news site Topky.sk which posted the news on 4 March 2023.

Here’s an excerpt of the English translation of the article:
“After two decades, she is ending Miss Universe. “After 24 years of cooperation with the Miss Universe Organization, I have decided not to continue and delegate a contestant to the world finals of Miss Universe 2023,” Lakatošová shocked us with these words. She also admitted that she had been toying with the idea for years. “I have been considering my decision for 5 years and it finally came after this year’s world finals in New Orleans,” explained the director. However, she does not want to completely leave the environment of Miss and the beauty business. She would only like to change the foreign partner.

“It doesn’t mean that I want to completely quit Miss and the beauty business, I just want to choose other foreign partners for cooperation within Miss. From the so-called big four – Big Four International Beauty Pageants, we will cooperate with Miss Earth, whose main environmental idea and saving the planet appeals to me more and is close to me,” Lakatošová explained to us.
Last year, Karolína Michalčíková became the historically last Slovak Miss Universe. Soon Silvia Lakatošová will announce Miss Earth SR.”

Source: https://m-topky-sk.translate.goog/cl/100313/2479215/EXKLUZIVNE-Necakany-krok-po-24-rokoch–Silvia-Lakatosova-KONCI-s-Miss-Universe-?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Silvia says the new JKN ownership of the Miss Universe has not had the credibility and prestige of the international pageant due to the constant change of rules and regulations. Silvia will send the winner of Miss Slovak Republic to Miss Earth instead of Miss Universe, according to her Miss Earth has clear advocacy about sustainability and following environmental projects to protect this planet. Unfortunately, after 24 years of cooperation with the Miss Universe Organization, the Slovak Republic will no longer be competing in this competition and they will focus more on the Miss Earth contest.