“I am surprised these public events are allowed to go on as a tragedy just occurred. Search and rescue is still going on though, guess these kinds of things are more important,” one user wrote in the comment section of Thai newspaper The Nation’s official Facebook page. “Really bad taste.”

The final night of the 2025 Miss Grand Thailand pageant, held Saturday evening in Bangkok, featured more than 70 contestants from provinces across the country. Sarunrat Puagpipat, representing Phuket, was crowned the winner and will go on to represent Thailand at Miss Grand International 2025.

The event took place after Bangkok experienced tremors from a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The tremors were in Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of China. CNN reported that a building under construction at Bangkok’s Chatuchak Park collapsed during the quake.

In the aftermath, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra convened an emergency meeting.

“I can’t understand Nawat and Miss Grand Thailand’s decision to hold such a loud, festive event when Bangkok just experienced a disaster,” another social media user wrote, referring to Miss Grand International president Nawat Itsaragrisil, a 53-year-old TV host and producer.

Founded by Itsaragrisil in 2013, Miss Grand International promotes humanitarian causes, with winners taking part in charity and advocacy work throughout their reigns. Contestants are selected through national pageants, internal casting, or direct appointments by license holders in participating countries.