Amid the scandal in Mexico surrounding the investigations against Raúl Rocha Cantú, owner of 50% of the Miss Universe franchise and whose bank accounts have been frozen due to alleged ties to organized crime—one of the questions that has arisen is what will happen with the public funds already invested in preparing to host the pageant on the island in 2026.

The public investment announced in September, when Governor Jenniffer González confirmed Puerto Rico as the host of the 75th edition of the international beauty pageant, amounts to a total of $9 million, divided into several payments.

“Each payment has been made in accordance with the requirements, following the corresponding controls and validations. As we have said previously, only two disbursements have been made: a first payment of $1,000,000, made after the agreement was signed and registered with the Puerto Rico Office of the Comptroller; and a second payment of $2,000,000, for a total of $3,000,000 to date,” emphasized the executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (CTPR), Willianette Robles Cancel.

She also assured that the disbursements are protected and that planning for the event continues. “The reality is that the funds already invested are not lost. There is a contractual agreement, and we are hiring an organization. So as long as it fulfills our requirements, the plan is for the event to continue taking place in Puerto Rico,” the public official told El Nuevo Día.

Regarding coordination of the pageant and the next steps, Robles Cancel explained: “The agreement remains in effect. We have requested a meeting with the organization, which will take place early next year, to finalize certain matters and communicate several topics that are important to us. That meeting will basically serve that purpose.”

The CTPR director also highlighted the economic impact expected from the pageant on the island. “This will bring an economic benefit to Puerto Rico, between 80 and 200 million dollars. We have to find the alternatives to ensure this is positive for the island because, in the end, it will benefit us,” she added.

Miss Universe 2026 will be the fourth edition hosted by Puerto Rico and the first time the host location is announced a year in advance, with the aim of facilitating logistics and event preparation, as well as maximizing its international reach. According to Robles Cancel, “An event like this helps us continue positioning ourselves. Being the host gives Puerto Rico an extraordinary platform to showcase its charms to the entire world… We will show Puerto Rico as what we really are: a modern and viable place to do business.”

For his part, Raúl Rocha Cantú faces investigations in Mexico for alleged ties to organized crime, including drug trafficking, fuel smuggling, and arms trafficking. Although his accounts are frozen, Mexican authorities have stated that there is no indication that Miss Universe is being financed with illicit funds, so the event in Puerto Rico is continuing as planned.

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This content was translated from Spanish to English using artificial intelligence and was reviewed by an editor before being published.