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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Miss Universe Organization suspends Miss USA organizers amid crowning scandal - reports

Miss Universe Organization suspends Miss USA organizers amid crowning scandal - reports

Published Oct 21, 2022 09:14 am
Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel of Texas (Facebook)

The Miss Universe Organization has suspended Miss USA organizers after some contestants claimed this year's beauty pageant was rigged.

This was reported by dailymail.com and Fox News Digital after it obtained a letter sent by the Miss Universe Organization to some contestants of this year's Miss USA pageant, which earlier crowned R'Bonney Gabriel, 28, of Houston, a Filipino-American fashion designer.

While the decision of the MUO has not been made public, Miss Missouri Mikala McGhee, 28, claimed that she and other contestants have received a letter from pageant bosses, which dailymail.com obtained.

Miss Universe CEO Amy Emmerich reportedly sent the email to McGhee and other contestants. The letter read:

“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 investigation will be led by the law firm Holland & Knight, and the findings will be used as the basis for the appropriate action. 

“We are appreciative of the cooperation from Miss USA Director Crystle Stewart as we work through the process. Our commitment to contestants and fans is our priority, and we will keep them top of mind as we move forward," the MUO told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Miss Brand runs the Miss USA beauty pageant, headed by Miss USA Director Crystle Stewart. It was not clear however if Stewart was also suspended, according to dailymail.com.“The current allegations that the 2022 Miss USA pageant was in favor of one contestant over another are misleading and simply not factual,” Stewart said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “I am fully cooperating with the open investigation being conducted by a third party at the request of the Miss Universe Organization. I am eager for all of the claims to be disproven, and the facts will speak for themselves; ultimately, putting all contestants’ minds at ease once and for all that this was indeed a fair pageant.

“The current allegations that the 2022 Miss USA pageant was in favor of one contestant over another are misleading and simply not factual.

“I am fully cooperating with the open investigation being conducted by a third party at the request of the Miss Universe Organization. I am eager for all of the claims to be disproven, and the facts will speak for themselves; ultimately, putting all contestants’ minds at ease once and for all that this was indeed a fair pageant.

“As a former titleholder, I know firsthand how much hard work, mental preparation and dedication goes into the process of being on the main stage. The last thing I would ever want to do is discredit or deny the contestants an equal opportunity to a fair competition. I would never jeopardize my dream of running an organization that empowers these young women," according to Stewart in a statement to Fox News Digital.

The dailymail.com also reported:

"The 2022 competition has been drowning in scandal following the controversial crowning on October 3, where contestants walked offstage - and left many pageant fans and beauty queens discussing whether Gabriel's win was fabricated.

"Contestants have accused 'woke' Miss USA of giving Gabriel preferential treatment and preselecting her to win because she's Filipina - making her the first Filipina American to be crowned.

"Gabriel has denied all the allegations against her, saying there was 'no unfair advantage' and she 'would never enter any pageant or any competition that I would know I would win.' "

The report also said that Stewart's husband Miss Brand Vice President Max Sebrects was forced to step down from the board after the Class of 2021 accused him of sexual misconduct.

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