Miss Brand Corp has been suspended by the governing body of Miss Universe after candidates aired frustrations over the alleged rigged results
The Miss Universe Organization suspended indefinitely the organizers of the Miss USA pageant—Miss Brand Corp—, following the allegations that the recently- concluded pageant was rigged and the outcome was predetermined.
Miss Texas R’Bonney Gabriel, a Filipina-American, was crowned as Miss USA last October 3, and complaints started surfacing not long after.
"After thorough deliberation, Miss Universe Organization has decided to suspend Miss Brand immediately," the Miss Universe Organization told Fox News Digital.
"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.”
Several candidates have spoken up, including Miss Missouri Mikala McGhee, about how the winner was already predetermined even before the coronation, even stating that the move was to entice the Filipino community in supporting the pageant.
Other candidates also revealed how they felt “humiliated” after joining the pageant and according to Miss Montana Heather Lee O’Keefe, they “feel very strongly that there was favoritism towards Miss Texas USA [Gabriel] and [they] have the receipts to prove it.”
The newly crowned Miss USA also spoke about the issue in an interview with E! News, saying that the pageant was not rigged at all.
“I would never enter any pageant or any competition that I know I would win. I have a lot of integrity,” she said. “I want to be transparent, and I want everybody to know that there was no unfair advantage and nothing was rigged.”
Crystle Stewart, who serves as director of both Miss Brand and Miss USA, finally addressed the issue and maintained the pageant’s integrity.
“The facts will speak for themselves; ultimately putting all contestants’ minds at ease once and for all that this was indeed a fair pageant,” she said.
Tags: #pageant, #missuniverse, #beautyqueen