Julia Morley speaks out for the first time on the controversy in an official statement.

The president and executive director of the Miss World Organization, Julia Morley, confirmed that the final of Miss World will take place on March 16 in Puerto Rico, at the Coca-Cola Music Hall. These are the first statements offered by Morley after a legal controversy over the disbursement of government sponsorships for the contest between Miss World 2016, Stephanie del Valle, and Puerto Rico with a Purpose of the investor Brock Pierce.

“We would like to acknowledge the tremendous contribution made by Brock Pierce, Crystal Rose Pierce, and her entire team,” Morley said in written statements. “We are releasing this statement to clear up some misleading media representations. Stephanie was a great ambassador for Miss World and Beauty with a Purpose. However, some of the information stated in the media is simply not true,” she added. “According to her own statements, Reignite, D’Val and Stephanie (del Valle) no longer have any role to play. Their actions and the timing of their withdrawal from the event have presented many difficulties for both Miss World and Puerto Rico With a Purpose that we strive to overcome,” Morley said.

The Miss World Organization originally agreed to hold the Miss World Final of its 70th edition, in Puerto Rico, on December 16, 2021, after signing an agreement with D’Val Enterprises, represented by Jesús Del Valle, and Reignite Puerto Rico, represented by her former Miss World 2016, Stephanie Del Valle.

However, Reignite Puerto Rico and D’Val Enterprises “did not comply with the terms of the agreement,” the Miss World Organization said in written statements.

“Despite the fact that the Miss World Organization made numerous concessions and amendments to help Stephanie Del Valle and her father Jesus, Reignite or D’Val never made a single contractual payment to the Miss World Organization,” says the organization.

The statements ensure that “Brock Pierce, President of Percival Venture Capital and Puerto Rico With a Purpose managed to fulfill the obligations required to successfully organize the Final and reached an agreement with D’Val, Reignite and Miss World International. Puerto Rico With a Purpose provided the necessary funds to carry out 30 days of activities in Puerto Rico for the contestants and continue the event. Due to a severe outbreak of Coronavirus, the Miss World 2021 Final was postponed in December 2021 to March 16, 2022.

“This postponement followed an emergency meeting on December 15, 2021 at El Coliseo between Jesús Del Valle, Brock Pierce, Steve Douglas and high-ranking Health officials from the Government of Puerto Rico,” she added.

The organization assured that “the revised date of March 16, 2022 was agreed and confirmed by the Miss World Organization with Reignite and Puerto Rico With a Purpose through correspondence on December 21, 2021, which was accepted by Stephanie Del Valle in the representation of Reignite in correspondence of the same day”.

“Reignite has stated that it has unilaterally terminated its agreement with Percival/Puerto Rico With a Purpose and Miss World, abandoning its responsibilities as co-host of the event, which is yet another example of breach of its contractual obligations. At this time there is no contractual relationship in force with Reignite ”, declares the statement from Miss World.

Puerto Rico With a Purpose and Miss World agreed to continue without Reignite to offer a successful event that is promoting Puerto Rico as a tourist destination in more than 100 countries. Initially, the event was scheduled to be held at the Puerto Rico Coliseum.

Despite the controversy, the 70th Miss World will be crowned on March 16th, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.