OPM icon Louie Heredia has been tapped as one of the judges for the 74th Miss Universe beauty pageant, which is ongoing in Thailand.

Louie Heredia (Instagram)

"We are proud to welcome @louie.heredia to the 74th Miss Universe Selection Committee. A true icon of the Philippine music industry, he has captivated audiences with multiple hit songs that earned him Gold, Platinum, and Double Platinum awards. 

"Beyond his success on stage, he is also a respected television figure, celebrated for his artistry and connection with viewers. With countless concerts and years of performing around the world, his insight and experience will bring a meaningful perspective to this year’s competition," the statement read.

Louie, who popularized the OPM classics "Nag-IIsang Ikaw," "Can Find No Reason," and "Una at Huling Mamahalin," also shared the announcement on his social media platform.

A screenshot from Instagram

Other members of the selection committee are Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza of Mexico, Thai actress Dr. Chalida Thaochalee, Cuban journalist Ismael Cala, Zimbabwean Army Col. Miniyothabo Francisca Baloyi, Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova of Canada, Brazilian artist Romero Britto, Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal of India, and Venezuelan model Sharon Fonseca.

Louie joined the selection committee after two judges, Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch and French football player and manager Claude Makelele, resigned before the finals.

Omar allegedly claimed there was a lack of transparency in the voting process. On the other hand, Claude said he was resigning "due to unforeseen personal reasons."

Official statement

The MUO issued an official statement to clarify alleged inaccuracies in the judging process for the 74 contestants of the pageant. The full statement:

"In light of recent public statements and social media posts, the Miss Universe Organization considers it necessary to clarify certain inaccuracies regarding the Beyond the Crown Program and the official judging processes of the Seventy Four Miss Universe competition.

"On 17 November, the Miss Universe Organization publicly released the official selection committee of the Beyond the Crown Program, an independent social impact initiative designed to promote leadership, service, education, health, inclusion, and meaningful support for charitable causes. This program operates entirely separately from the Miss Universe competition and from the official judging panel.

"Following this announcement, Mr. Omar Harfuch, who had previously agreed to serve as one of the eight official members of the Miss Universe judging panel, published a statement expressing confusion and claiming lack of understanding regarding the scope and nature of a social impact program such as Beyond the Crown. His comments incorrectly suggested that an unauthorized or impromptu jury had been formed and that the official judges had been excluded from the selection of finalists.

"The Miss Universe Organization firmly clarifies that no impromptu jury has been created, that no external group has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists, and that all competition evaluations continue to follow the established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols.

"Given Mr. Harfuch’s expressed confusion, his public mischaracterization of the program, and his stated desire not to participate, the Miss Universe Organization respectfully acknowledges his withdrawal from the official judging panel. Effective immediately, Mr. Harfuch is prohibited from using, displaying, referencing, or associating himself with any Miss Universe trademarks, service marks, logos, titles, or registered properties, in any format, medium, or communication, whether digital, written, or verbal. Any continued use will be considered unauthorized and subject to the applicable legal actions and protections afforded to the Miss Universe Organization.

"All procedures remain governed by the organization’s highest standards of transparency, integrity, and fairness.

"The Miss Universe Organization encourages the public, media outlets, and fans worldwide to rely solely on verified MUO communications and to continue supporting the delegates whose leadership, service, and dedication reflect the true values of Miss Universe."