Miss Universe controversy is back in the spotlight after the Miss Universe Organization, which organizes the annual pageant, was accused of rigging the selection process for its 2023 edition. The accusations have come from a former judge claiming that the organization has favored certain contestants over others.
Controversy has surrounded the Miss Universe Organizer 2023, with accusations of rigging the contest. Amidst this controversy, we must celebrate R’Bonney Gabriel – the new Miss Universe 2022!
R’Bonney Gabriel and her fashion styles bring a modern and empowering twist to traditional beauty pageants. See more of her stunning outfits.
Miss Universe Controversy for Alleged Rigging
The Miss Universe organization has been accused of rigging in the wake of the most recent pageant. As more details about what happened surface, the public is becoming increasingly skeptical about the fairness and transparency of the contest.
Let’s look at what’s going on with Miss Universe 2023.
Rigging Controversy after Miss USA named Miss Universe
On Saturday, January 14, at the 71st Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans, a local Texan named Miss USA was crowned Miss Universe, the most coveted title in the pageant circuit. However, the achievement is not without drama. R’Bonney Gabriel, a native of Houston, became the first Miss USA to hold the title in ten years. She is also the first Filipino American to hold the titles of Miss Texas, Miss USA, and Miss Universe.
Gabriel’s 30-pound, 36-inch-diameter outfit inspired by the 1969 U.S. moonwalk caused a stir online before Miss USA was declared the winner.
The claims that favoritism influenced Gabriel to be crowned Miss Universe were described as absurd by the Miss Universe Organization.
It was last year that rumors began circulating regarding the possibility of a rigged Miss USA pageant after Gabriel received a lukewarm reception from her other contestants when she won the title on October 3, 2022, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada.
Miss Montana USA Heather Lee O’Keefe said in a TikTok video that the “drama” began when a significant sponsor shared a video of Gabriel at a high-end spa the sponsor owned hours after Gabriel won.
More than a dozen Miss USA competitors claimed that Gabriel was unfairly favored or that this year’s competition was rigged. They cited numerous instances where Gabriel and Miss USA’s national sponsors had competing interests.
Two of Miss USA’s national sponsors, Miss Academy, Stewart’s pageant school, and the Houston-based med spa Mia Beauté, which Gabriel resided in before becoming Miss USA 2022, are also state sponsors for Miss Texas USA.
Other Miss USA contestants warned Business Insider about Gabriel’s potential conflicts of interest, claiming that she was favored by the pageant’s sponsors and had a history of dating the competition’s judges. The Miss USA organization and its president Crystle Stewart were the subjects of an inquiry by the Miss Universe Organization, which managed the competition until 2020. Stewart was subsequently suspended on October 8, 2022. The planning and preparation for the pageant, which Gabriel finally won, were taken over by the Miss Universe Organization.
Miss Universe Organizer Issues Statement
In response to these allegations, Miss Universe’s organizers released a statement that denied any wrongdoing and declared that all scores had been given relatively and objectively. They also emphasized that none of the judges were biased toward any particular contestant, and none had received special favors or treatment during their judging duties.
However, many viewers remain unconvinced by this explanation, pointing out that such a close result is suspicious considering how high-stakes this competition is. There will be no resolution until further investigation is done into how these scores were determined and whether foul play was involved.
The Miss Universe Organization has suspended the head of Miss USA and launched an investigation. In anticipation of a separate investigation into claims that the 2022 Miss USA pageant was rigged, the Miss Universe Organization has placed former Miss USA President Crystle Stewart and her organization, Miss Brand Corporation, on administrative leave. “After thorough deliberation, Miss Universe Organization has decided to suspend Miss Brand immediately,” the Miss Universe Organization said in a statement.
“Miss Universe Organization will be taking over the Miss USA program while a comprehensive, third-party investigation is conducted,” the email obtained by Insider read. “The investigation will be led by the law firm Holland & Knight and the findings will be used as the basis for the appropriate action.”
The Miss Universe Organization confirmed to Insider that the investigation remains ongoing. A spokesperson for Stewart told Insider that she was complying with all requests from Miss Universe.
What Does This Mean For Future Pageants?
In light of these accusations, many people wonder if this will affect future pageants hosted by this organization.
It is too early to tell what effect this scandal will have on future competitions, but extra precautions may need to be taken to ensure transparency and fairness in the future.
All eyes will be on Miss Universe 2023 and any other pageants hosted by this organization over the next few years.
Conclusion
The Miss Universe controversy has sparked a heated debate over whether or not the competition was rigged in favor of one particular contestant.
The organizers have issued a statement denying any wrongdoing and have promised to launch a full investigation into the matter. In the meantime, viewers will be watching with anticipation to see what happens next in this ongoing story.
No matter what the outcome is, it is clear that fairness and transparency need to be maintained in future pageants hosted by this organization if they hope to restore trust in their competitions. In the future, they should take extra precautions to ensure that all contestants have an equal chance at winning and that no bias or favoritism is shown towards any particular contestant.
