Crystle Stewart, the president of Miss USA, falls under investigation by the Miss Universe Organization due to claims of a rigged October competition.
Stewart serves as the CEO of Miss Brand Corporation. In addition, she directs the organization of the yearly Miss Universe USA pageant with the business. Since joining, the United States has already won eight Miss Universe crowns. This includes Olivia Culpo (1995), Chelsi Smith (1995), Carol Morris (1956), Linda Bement (1960), Sylvia Louise Hitchcock (1967), Shawn Weatherly (1980), and Miriam Stevenson (1954). (2012).
“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,” said the Miss Universe Organization.
Stewart reassured the public that she would assist with the inquiry while it went on. She hoped the organization to make the right inquiry. Further, she refuted the claims made by several pageant competitors.
“The current allegations that the 2022 Miss USA pageant favored one contestant over another are misleading and simply not factual. The last thing I would ever want to do is discredit or deny the contestants an equal opportunity to a fair competition. Furthermore, I would never jeopardize my dream of running an organization that empowers these young women,” she stated.
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Blatant favoritism in Miss Universe
On October 3, R’Bonney Gabriel snatched the Miss USA crown. Thanks to her victory, she qualified to compete in this year’s Miss Universe pageant. Other Miss USA contestants, on the other hand, vented their anger on social media about the outcome. They said the company manipulated the competition, openly demonstrated bias, resulting in Gabriel being crowned.
Laa O’Keefe, a Miss USA candidate from Montana, shared a TikTok video in which she described how Gabriel visited a spa that was a sponsor’s property. When she won Miss USA Texas, the spa was one of the sponsors, Gabriel responded in the video. She also paid for the service and just so happened to make a video while visiting the spa.
“We can’t blame this girl, and it’s really sad because her performance was amazing, and she probably could have won fair and square. But, the issue is not with Miss Texas or R’Bonney winning. The issue is with the alleged corruption of the Miss USA organization,” said O’Keefe.
“I want to start by saying it was not rigged because I would never enter any pageant or any competition that I know I would win. I have a lot of integrity,” Gabriel answered.
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Fix the issue
Gabriel stated in one interview that she remains prepared to answer any queries. She also maintains her belief that the company will resolve the problem and that she will speak with all parties concerned to clarify her identity and defend her title.
“I think I’m open to talking to her about it. And I would love to communicate with her because I think there’s a lot of allegations coming up that aren’t true,” she said.
“I will talk to anybody because I want to be transparent, and I want everybody to know that there was no unfair advantage and nothing was rigged. And as a titleholder and as Miss USA, I don’t want girls to think that this is how pageantry works. This is to celebrate women. We work very hard, and I have respect for all the women that showed up on that stage.”
Photo Credit: Miss USA
Source: CNN
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