(CMR) Miss Universe has suspended Miss USA President Crystal Stewart, and her company and is under investigation following 2022 contestants speaking out about the pageant being ‘rigged' weeks before the October 3 contest.
“After thorough deliberation, Miss Universe Organization has decided to suspend Miss Brand immediately. Miss Universe Organization will be taking over the Miss USA program while a comprehensive, third-party investigation is conducted,” the Miss Universe Organization said in a statement.
Miss USA 2022 crowned Miss Texas, R’Bonney Gabriel, its first Filipino American winner earlier this month. Since then, contestants have called into question the relationship between Stewart and her company, Miss Brand Corp., and Gabriel.
“A lot of the girls felt like it was the organization's plan from the beginning for R'Bonney to win, no matter who else was competing. We all had an idea of what was really going on behind the scenes. We felt disrespected and paraded around for a show,” Miss Missouri, Mikala McGhee, told Insider.
Contestants said there has been talk of rigging for weeks with Miss Texas USA getting extra attention. However, Stewart has denied these allegations.
“With the Miss Academy, every single contestant had free training through eight-week programs and group sessions. What was offered to each state director was the same opportunity as a state-level sponsorship as well,” Stewart explained.
The pageant school and med spa Mia Beaute, both of which are Miss USA national sponsors, in addition to state sponsors for Miss Texas USA, are based in Houston.
“Things get messy when you have a national sponsor offering more to their home-state girl,” Miss New Hampshire, Camila Sacco, told Insider.
Miss Illinois, Angel Reyes, also said she noticed Gabriel having “personal relationships with judges who served on the judges’ panel during pageant week — an extreme conflict of interest.”
Gabriel has rejected any conflicts of interest that rigged her victory, telling GMA, “I didn't have an unfair advantage or knew that I was going to win. I worked very, very hard to get to where I am now.
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