Miss Universe contestant sues organizers after falling into 1.5-meter stage hole, suffering serious brain injury

Jamaica's representative at last year's Miss Universe pageant has filed a lawsuit against the Miss Universe Organization nearly a year after falling through a hole in the stage and suffering what she describes as serious brain damage.

According to People magazine and other outlets, Gabrielle Henry filed suit Monday against the Miss Universe Organization, its parent company JKN Legacy, and Legacy Holding Group USA, among others.

Henry fell into a hole roughly 1.5 meters deep in the stage while rehearsing for a preliminary round of the 74th Miss Universe pageant, held in Bangkok, Thailand.

She lost consciousness after the fall and sustained traumatic brain injuries, including acute subarachnoid hemorrhage, frontal lobe hemorrhagic contusion and subdural hemorrhage.

In her complaint, Henry said intense stage lighting had prevented her from seeing the opening clearly. She also said the hole contained lighting equipment and concrete, and that no warning signs or covers had been placed around it.

Henry, an ophthalmologist, was hospitalized from Nov. 19 to Dec. 10 last year for treatment. She said neurological and cognitive symptoms have persisted since then, requiring ongoing treatment, rehabilitation and monitoring.

Henry said the accident prevented her from resuming her medical residency and that it "caused serious mental anguish, separate from the physical pain, which she continues to suffer to this day."

In response, the Miss Universe Organization said in a statement to People that it had "not been served with or received any lawsuit, claim, demand letter or subpoena from Ms. Henry as of this time."

The organization also said that responsibility for venue, stage and on-site safety at the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand had rested with local host and producer Miss Grand International and Miss Universe Thailand.