The dispute emerged after the Miss Grand International All Stars 2026 final on May 30 in Thailand. After returning to her home country, Hernandez shared about her experience at the pageant and criticized Harfouch, one of the eight judges, on her personal Instagram page. He had previously given her seven points in the evening gown competition.

“Your 7 may have kept me from advancing to the Top 5, and that is your right as a judge. But while you recently stated that you do not remember who I am, I would much rather be remembered by the thousands of supporters around the world who have followed my journey and the fair recognition of my work from the rest of the panel sitting next to you,” her post read.

Hernandez also said Harfouch’s monthly Spotify listeners were fewer than the number of supporters she gained during the competition.

“I leave this experience proud, grateful, and with my head held high. No score can take away the work I’ve done, the impact I’ve made, or the love I’ve received,” she added.

On Tuesday, Harfouch responded through a story posted to his Instagram, which has more than three million followers.

“The 7 I gave you was already a very high score. Your recent actions and the wave of cyberattacks and defamation directed at me clearly prove that my judgment was right,” he wrote.

Harfouch said he sensed “aggressiveness and hostility” from Hernandez after the closed-door interview round on May 26.

“The values of a true Miss are the exact opposite of what you are demonstrating: tolerance, respect, dignity, integrity, humility, emotional intelligence, leadership, and the ability to unite people,” he continued.

He also called for an end to the “the campaign of hate” and urged her supporters to stop attacking him.

Dominican Republic contestant Yamilex Hernandez. Photo from Instagram/@yamilexhdz

Harfouch is a French businessman, composer and producer known for his outspoken remarks and strict judging style. He was appointed to the judging panel of Miss Universe 2025 but later resigned, saying the judging process lacked transparency.

At Miss Grand International All Stars, Harfouch drew attention for awarding some contestants scores as low as one or two points in the makeup-free round.

“[My score] is not a one-time decision. The public remembers, compares, and expects coherence. For me, consistency and logic in judging will always come before emotion,” the Inquirer quoted him as saying.

Hernandez, 30, was considered one of the leading contenders thanks to her stage presence and runway skills. Born in the Dominican Republic, she moved to the U.S. at age 13, according to Missology magazine.

She graduated with honors in communication, media, and film from Kean University. Standing 178 cm tall, she previously placed in the top 15 of Miss International 2023 and the top 30 of Miss Universe 2025.

Unlike the original Miss Grand International format, contestants could register independently for the Miss Grand International All Stars without going through national license holders.

The competition was open to former international pageant contestants, including transgender women and married women with children.

The inaugural edition featured 56 contestants and ran from May 16 to 30. Colombian contestant Vanessa Pulgarin won the title.