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HomeEntertainmentsMiss USA is being investigated after candidates say the event was rigged.

Miss USA is being investigated after candidates say the event was rigged.

Miss USA President Crystle Stewart and her firm, Miss Brand Corporation, have been suspended by the Miss Universe Organization awaiting an independent inquiry into claims that the 2022 Miss USA competition was manipulated.

Image Credit: Getty Images. R'Bonney Gabriel miss USA 2022.
Image Credit: Getty Images. R’Bonney Gabriel, Miss USA 2022.

“After careful assessment, the Miss Universe Organization has decided to immediately suspend Miss Brand,” the Miss Universe Organization stated in a statement to CNN. “Until a lengthy, third-party inquiry is completed, the Miss Universe Organization will take over the Miss USA program.”

Stewart told CNN on Wednesday that she is working on the probe, but she dismisses any claims that the competition was rigged.

Miss USA pegeant favor controversy

“The recent claims that the 2022 Miss USA pageant favored one contender over another are false and deceptive,” Stewart stated in a statement. “The last thing I would ever do is disparage or deny the participants an equal opportunity to compete in a fair manner.” I would never put my ambition of establishing an organization that empowers young women in jeopardy.”

Image Credit: Getty Images. R'Bonney Gabriel miss USA 2022.
Image Credit: Getty Images. R’Bonney Gabriel, Miss USA 2022.

Following the pageant on Oct. 3, several Miss USA contestants resorted to social media to query if Miss USA 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel’s triumph was impacted by favoritism.

Miss Montana USA Heather Lee O’Keefe has been one of the more outspoken Miss USA candidates, claiming in a TikTok video that the “drama” began when a major pageant sponsor broadcast a video of Gabriel enjoying the sponsor’s luxurious spa hours after Gabriel won.

Miss Texas

According to an interview with E! According to Gabriel, the spa was a Miss Texas USA sponsor, and once she was elected Miss Texas, she paid her own way to attend the spa and film a video there.

O’Keefe also included a photo of the pageant owner changing Gabriel’s hair as evidence of claimed bias favoring Gabriel. Gabriel stated that this shot was taken after she was crowned Miss USA, not before.

Image Credit: Getty Images. R'Bonney Gabriel, miss USA 2022.
Image Credit: Getty Images. R’Bonney Gabriel, Miss USA 2022.

“First and initially, I want to emphasize that it was not rigged because I would never attend a pageant or competition that I knew I was going to win,” Gabriel told E! “I am a really truthful person.”

“We really can’t blame this girl, and it’s very unfortunate because her performance was wonderful, and she definitely could have won fair and square,” O’Keefe added in a TikTok video. “The problem isn’t that Miss Texas won by R’Bonney. The problem lies with the Miss USA organization’s suspected corruption.”

CNN attempted to contact O’Keefe for comment but did not receive a response.

When asked if she had talked with Miss Montana USA, Gabriel replied, “I haven’t had the opportunity to chat to her about it.” And I believe I’m willing to discuss it with her. I’d want to talk to her because I believe there are a lot of false charges floating around.”

“I will speak to anybody because I want to be honest, and I want everybody to know that there was no one-sided advantage and nothing was rigged, and as a titleholder and Miss USA, I don’t want girls to believe this is how pageantry works.” This is to honor ladies. 

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Michel Lewis
Michel Lewis
Journalist | Media | Blogging. These Three Words Describe Me in The Best Way. I Am a Journalist with 3 Years of Experience. I have a small team who helps us to find the news at local level and write news article.
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