Former Miss Universe Jamaica Gabrielle Henry has filed a lawsuit against the Miss Universe Organisation and two related companies, JKN Legacy Inc and Legacy Holding Group USA, nearly a year after she suffered serious brain injuries during the 2025 Miss Universe competition in Thailand. The incident occurred on 19 November 2024 during the preliminary round of the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok. Henry, representing Jamaica, fell about five feet through an "unmarked and uncovered opening in the stage" during the evening gown segment. The opening contained lighting equipment and concrete, and bright lights made the stage difficult to see, according to her legal complaint. She lost consciousness and suffered a traumatic brain injury, including bleeding around the brain, a head contusion, and a subdural hemorrhage. She was hospitalized from 19 November to 10 December, and her family and the Miss Universe Organisation described her injuries as an "intracranial hemorrhage with loss of consciousness, a fracture, and facial lacerations." At the time of the accident, Henry was an ophthalmologist and was pursuing a medical residency. The lawsuit claims her injuries have left her unable to resume her residency and that she continues to suffer from neurological and cognitive symptoms requiring ongoing care and rehabilitation. She has also claimed that the media coverage of the incident caused her "severe emotional distress." The lawsuit seeks damages for medical treatment, rehabilitation, emotional distress, loss of earning capacity, and professional opportunities. It also states that several contestants had raised concerns about the stage's lighting and safety, but only after Henry's fall were "bright white lights" added to illuminate the stage's edges. The lawsuit accuses the Miss Universe Organisation and its parent companies of acting "wanton, reckless, and in conscious disregard of the safety" of contestants. The Miss Universe Organisation has denied the claims, stating it had not been served with the lawsuit and therefore could not comment on the allegations. It also said responsibility for the 2025 competition in Thailand, including the venue, stage, and on-site safety, rested with MGI and Miss Universe Thailand, under the direction of Nawat Itsaragrisil, a Thai businessman and founder of Miss Grand International. The organisation claimed the local organisers had failed to cover Henry's hospital expenses and had left her unattended, prompting the Miss Universe Organisation to step in and pay for her treatment despite having no obligation to do so. It also covered her treatment at a specialized hospital in Jamaica and offered her a position as a goodwill ambassador with the Miss Universe team, though it said it had not received a response to that offer. Henry has spent much of the past year recovering and has remained largely out of the public eye. In May 2026, she made her first public appearance since the accident at the Integrity Children's Fund's Dinner en Rouge Gala in Atlanta, where she spoke about her "prolonged recovery." In August, she returned to the Miss Universe Jamaica stage to crown her successor, Celene Hall. In a recent essay for People magazine, Henry described her recovery as challenging, noting she had transformed from a medical student to a doctor to a patient. She mentioned enduring "sleepless nights with severe back pain and headaches" and is now working to continue her career on a modified schedule while staying in close contact with her medical providers.