Former Miss Universe Jamaica Gabrielle Henry has filed a lawsuit against the Miss Universe Organization and two of its parent companies, nearly one year after suffering a serious fall from the stage during the 2025 Miss Universe competition.
Henry filed the lawsuit on September 21 in Delaware Superior Court, accusing the organization, JKN Legacy Inc. and Legacy Holding Group USA of negligence and other claims related to the November 19, 2025 incident.
According to the complaint, Henry was performing rehearsed choreography during the preliminary competition when she fell approximately five feet through what the lawsuit describes as an “unmarked and uncovered opening in the stage.”
The lawsuit alleges the opening contained lighting equipment and concrete and claims intense stage lighting impaired Henry’s visibility before the fall.
Henry reportedly lost consciousness and suffered serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, frontal lobe hemorrhagic contusion and subdural hemorrhage. She was hospitalized from November 19 until December 10, 2025.
The Jamaican doctor alleges that the injuries have prevented her from resuming her medical residency and that she continues to experience neurological and cognitive symptoms requiring treatment and rehabilitation.
Henry is seeking damages for losses that she says include diminished earning capacity and professional opportunities connected to her medical career.
Her lawsuit further alleges that other contestants had raised concerns about the lighting and staging conditions before the incident. According to the complaint, the stage was later modified with bright white lights along its edge following Henry’s fall.
The suit also addresses the role of Miss Grand International (MGI), which was retained as the local host and event producer. Henry alleges that while MGI handled staging, lighting and safety work, the Miss Universe Organization maintained control over those aspects of the production.
The Miss Universe Organization, however, said in a statement to PEOPLE that it had not been served with or received the lawsuit and therefore could not comment on claims it had not seen.
The organization also maintained that responsibility for the venue, stage and on-site safety rested with the host and production entities, MGI and Miss Universe Thailand.
It further said it stepped in to cover Henry’s hospital expenses in Thailand and later paid for specialized treatment after she returned to Jamaica.
Questions surrounding responsibility for Henry’s fall have persisted since the incident.
Miss Universe Haiti 2025 Melissa Sapini previously told PEOPLE that contestants were gathered after the accident and claimed a staff member initially suggested Henry had not been paying attention.
A representative for MGI later disputed suggestions that Henry had been blamed, while claiming the incident occurred primarily because she “missed her blocking” and may not have been looking at the runway.
