Sweden's representative to Miss International 2015 abandons pageant, citing that she felt like an "escort"

On her Instagram, Isabella posted a picture of Expressen newspaper published on Oct. 28, 2015 featuring her story

     Isabella Jedler Forsman, 19, Sweden's representative to Miss International 2015 pageant which is taking place right now in Japan, withdrew from the pageant a week ago. According to the Swedish newspaper Expressen which published her story, Isabella said that the pageant was not what she had expected. You can read the article in Swedish here.

     She claims that when she got to Japan, she had to hand over all her personal information including passwords to social media. She also complained about the hectic schedule that included attending lectures, dinner parties and other events. She said that she felt like an escort sitting at a table with fifteen men and that she was obliged to be nice to them. 

Isabella with some of the contestants during a charity event at Miss International 2015 pageant / Instagram

     Long days with little sleep caused her to be ill, and when she became ill, she chose not to join one of the planned events and she was scolded for it. She also said that she could not post pictures online and to express how she really felt about the competition, which she thought was "crap." She also recounted how she had sat through a long meeting with the Japanese police chief and three other officers who laughed at her and mistreated her, and refused to give her back her passport because she had a contract with the organization. Finally, the chief threw her passport on the table after a long conversation.

     Now she is back in Sweden safe and sound, but claims that she would have constant nightmares caused by her experience in Japan. Joakim Granberg, president of the Miss Universe Sweden, says that his organization did what they could to prevent Isabella from withdrawing from the pageant and supports her decision to do so. However, he believes that the contestants have been informed that the schedule for competitions would be tough.

     It is unfortunate that Isabella had to withdraw from the pageant, but it is even more unfortunate that she had not been fully prepared and trained to handle the pressure of an international pageant. Every pageant has its own rules, and if she couldn't abide by the rules, then it was only wise for her to leave.  Did she think that the two-to-three-week long pageant would be a fun vacation? If she did, she thought wrong. Oh, well... one less girl means one less competition for the girls who have remained.

Instagram