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According to ZnewsChoi became the center of controversy after the show’s fourth episode aired on Jan. 20, with audiences saying she sent mixed romantic signals that left fellow participants, show panelists, and viewers confused about her intentions.

In the episode, Choi initially traveled to the show’s Paradise island with contestant Lim Su Been and appeared visibly jealous when he interacted with another woman. She later surprised viewers by giving candy to another contestant, Lee Sung Hun.

The tension intensified during a bonfire activity and a game of “truth or dare.” When asked who he was most interested in, Lim moved to sit beside Choi and whispered, “It’s you.” However, when Choi was asked whom she wanted to go to Paradise with next, she bypassed both Lim and Lee and instead chose Woo Sung Min, whispering, “Can you go with me next time?”

The choice stunned both contestants and studio commentators, as Choi had previously ranked Woo third among the men she was interested in, with Lee ranked first.

“I would understand if she chose Sung Hun, who was clearly her top pick,” panelist Lee Da Hee said on the show. “But suddenly choosing Sung Min is hard to predict.”

In a separate interview with the production team, Choi said she felt a growing closeness with Woo after completing a photo mission together and wanted to get to know him better. She later added to the surprise by revealing that she had begun developing feelings for another contestant, Song Seung Il.

“At first, I thought he was just flirting,” she said. “But when he gave me candy, I suddenly had feelings for him.”

Her comments drew disbelief from panelists, with members Dex exclaiming “She’s developing feelings again?” and Kyuhyun expressing shock that Choi appeared to be pursuing four men simultaneously.

During another round of the game, when asked which man she felt most attracted to, Choi approached Song and whispered to him, “I want to date you.” The moment visibly affected fellow contestant Kim Min Gee, who also had feelings for Song and later described it as “the most shocking moment” of the episode.

Online commentators also questioned the speed and frequency of Choi’s shifting emotions. After the episode aired, large numbers of viewers flooded her Instagram account with critical comments.

“She is interested in every moving object on the show,” one user wrote.

“Giving Min Gee side eyes, shading other girls, wanting every guy in sight but can’t decide, and then throwing a fit when they notice anyone else girl,” another commented. “Your insecurity is showing loud and clear.”

A friend of Choi later posted a message in her defense, saying the negative impression viewers formed was tied to the “role” she was given on the show.

“You all are absolutely permitted to voice your opinions about her role in the show,” the friend wrote. “But coming for her as a person is too much.”

At 27, Choi is the first Korean to win the Miss Earth title and the first to win one of the “Big Four” international beauty pageants. She was born in Sydney, Australia, and lived there until age seven before growing up in South Korea, Canada, the U.S. and China, according to PhilStar.

Choi studied communication at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and has taken on minor acting roles since her pageant victory.