Allegations that Miss USA 2022 was rigged has rocked the beauty pageant community in recent days – but this certainly isn’t the first time that a contest of this kind has faced scandal.
From furious feuds that saw one contestant snatching a crown off the winner’s head to a sensational on-air blunder in which the host announced the wrong winner on national television, the Miss America, Miss USA, and Miss Universe competitions have had a series of controversial moments over the years.
In 2017, the Miss America pageant came under ferocious fire after the then-CEO Sam Haskell was accused of calling contestants ‘c**ts’ and making crude jokes about their looks and size in a series of alleged leaked emails.
Years earlier, in 1996, Donald Trump, who was the co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization at the time, received backlash for referring to that year’s winner as ‘Miss Piggy’ after she gained some weight – and these are just some of the many scandals that have plagued the competitions.
Beauty pageants have also faced scrutiny for their fiercely strict rules; married women and mothers were not allowed to compete until earlier this year. They have also long been slammed for their lack of inclusivity; a black woman didn’t compete in Miss America until 1971 (50 years after it was started) and just last year, the Miss USA 2021 winner begged the organization to showcase ‘all body types.’
Allegations that the 2022 Miss USA pageant was rigged has rocked the beauty pageant community recently – but this isn’t the first time that the competition has faced scandal. Winner Miss Texas R’Bonney Gabriel is seen at the Miss USA competition
Some have wondered if the competition was fixed and if she was pre-chosen as the winner, after they noticed that the beauty queen filmed an advertisement for a plastic surgery spa (pictured) nine weeks before – which is a key part of the prize
As speculation surrounding the legitimacy of the competition continues to swirl, FEMAIL has taken a look at the other controversial moments that have plagued the Miss USA, Miss America, and Miss Universe pageants over the years
In addition, many of the women who have been crowned over the years have faced their own personal controversies, including drug arrests, nude photo scandals, and racist slurs.
One woman was even sent to prison after it was brought to light that she had lied about having cancer – faking a diagnosis in an attempt to get people to donate money to her and scamming thousands of people in the process.
The latest scandal to hit the beauty community took place on Monday night, when Miss Texas R’Bonney Gabriel earning the coveted title as Miss USA 2022, as some have now wondered if the competition was fixed and that she was pre-chosen as the winner.
Many viewers have pointed out that the beauty queen filmed an advertisement for a plastic surgery spa nine weeks before the competition took place – which is a key part of the prize. That clinic uploaded the video advert hours after her win, sparking suspicion that they’d known all along she would be crowned, especially since none of the other entrants are known to have visited the resort.
She later said in a statement: ‘It was not rigged, because I would never enter any pageant or any competition that I would know I would win. I have a lot of integrity.’
As speculation surrounding the legitimacy of the competition continues to swirl, FEMAIL has taken a look at the many controversial moments that have plagued the beauty pageants over the years.
Sexist CEO: Former Miss America head was forced to step down after allegedly calling contestants ‘c**ts’ in a series of leaked emails
Former Miss America CEO Sam Haskell, 67, came under fierce fire in 2017, after Huffington Post released a series of alleged emails that had been sent by him to other officials, in which he described the women competing in the pageant as ‘c**ts’
Haskell (seen in 2017) announced he was stepping down days later. In a statement, however, he called Huff Post’s article a ‘vicious story’ that involved ‘a series of conveniently edited emails’
Former Miss America CEO Haskell, 67, came under fierce fire in 2017, after Huffington Post released a series of alleged emails that had been sent by him to other officials, in which he described the women competing in the pageant with sexist and crude language.
In one message, he allegedly called them ‘c**ts,’ and in another he referred to them as ‘snakes.’
The emails were reportedly written throughout 2014 and 2015, and also saw Haskell joking about the contestants’ looks, weight – and even their intimate sex lives.
Haskell, who first joined the board in 2005 and was reportedly earning $500,000 a year at the time, announced he was stepping down days later.
In a statement, however, he called Huff Post’s article a ‘vicious story’ that involved ‘a series of conveniently edited emails.’
Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan, now 33, from Tennessee, told Today at the time that she was not surprised by what was said in Haskell’s alleged leaked emails, claiming that she had witnessed inappropriate comments from him in the past.
‘For the longest time, I’ve tried to explain to people around me that this is happening or these things are being said,’ she said, adding that seeing the emails ‘validated’ he feelings.
Lack of inclusivity: Miss USA 2021 winner begged the organization to showcase ‘all body types’
In 1957, Mary Leona Gage (pictured left), from Texas, was crowned as Miss USA – but later had her title revoked after officials found out she was secretly married. She later said the scrutiny she faced resulted in multiple ‘suicide attempts’
Elle Smith, 24, from Kentucky, who was crowned as Miss USA in 2021, told Insider after her win last year that she wished the competition would be ‘more inclusive to all body types’
Back in the 1960s, a bunch of women reportedly teamed up and decided to protest beauty pageants – by bringing a bunch of sheep with crowns to the 1968 Miss America competition in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
According to Time magazine, 400 women showed up, chanting, ‘Ain’t she sweet, makin’ profit off her meat,’ – and they even reportedly threw ‘aprons, mops, cosmetics, and bras’ into a giant trash bin.
Siera Bearchell, 29, who represented Canada at Miss Universe in 2017, said she was ‘told she had to lose’ a certain amount of weight ‘to have potential to win the competition,’ which resulted in her ‘restricting her eating’ leading up to the competition
‘It was the nexus of so many issues – beauty standards, money, women’s freedom, objectification of women, patriotism,’ one of the people who had organized the protest told the outlet.
The world of pageantry has long been slammed for its lack of inclusivity, as well as its strict rules for competitors.
Until recently, women hoping to take home the title of Miss Universe were not allowed to compete if they were currently or previously married or if they had any children or were pregnant.
In 1957, Mary Leona Gage, from Texas, was crowned as Miss USA – but later had her title revoked after officials found out she was secretly married and had two children.
According to The Baltimore Sun, Gage got married at age 14 and had entered the competition to ‘get away’ from her husband and ‘escape his oppression.’
The outlet also reported that the scrutiny she faced after losing her crown resulted in multiple ‘suicide attempts’ and ‘drug overdoses.’
In August, it was announced that starting in 2023, the competition was opening its doors to married women and mothers; and while it’s becoming more accepting regarding marital status, some have slammed the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants for still only accepting super skinny women with certain body types.
Elle Smith, 24, from Kentucky, who was crowned as Miss USA in 2021, told Insider after her win last year that she wished the competition would be ‘more inclusive to all body types.’
‘At Miss USA, we have been so inclusive to different ethnicities and different races, but more or less, we all look very similar,’ she said.
‘I think, if we want to be representative of women as a whole, then we’ve got to be more inclusive to all body types.’
‘I was never happy with what I looked like or what I was being told to do,’ she said. ‘I was instructed to eat as little as possible … I couldn’t even workout to the level I would because I literally had no fuel for my body’
Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado, now 45, from Venezuela, was reportedly told by officials that she was going to be replaced if she didn’t lose weight. She is seen in 1996
At the time, Donald Trump – who was the co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization at the time – called her ‘an eating machine’ and ‘Miss Piggy’ on Howard Stern’s radio show. They are pictured in 1997
Siera Bearchell, 29, who represented Canada at Miss Universe in 2017, previously told Elle that she was ‘told she had to lose’ a certain amount of weight ‘to have potential to win the competition,’ which resulted in her ‘restricting her eating’ leading up to the competition.
‘I was never happy with what I looked like or what I was being told to do,’ she said. ‘I was instructed to eat as little as possible … I couldn’t even workout to the level I would because I literally had no fuel for my body.
‘Some days I would have a single protein bar–half in the morning and half later on and do hours of workouts. I was told, “If you want to be successful, this is what you have to do.”‘
Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado, now 45, from Venezuela, was reportedly told by officials that she was going to be replaced if she didn’t lose weight.
At the time, Trump – who was the co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization at the time – called her ‘an eating machine’ and ‘Miss Piggy’ on Howard Stern’s radio show.
Trump allegations: Former President was accused of entering Miss Teen USA changing rooms where young girls were getting undressed
Trump owned the organization for two decades before he sold it in 2015 – and allegations later emerged that he entered the Miss Teen USA changing rooms where girls as young as 15 were getting undressed. He is seen with Miss Universe 2004
‘I remember putting on my dress really quick. I was like, “Oh my God, there’s a man in here,”‘ one Miss Teen contestant told Buzzfeed, while another added, ‘Some girls were topless. Others girls were naked.’ Trump is seen with Miss Universe 2012
Trump owned the organization for two decades before he sold it in 2015 – and allegations later emerged that he entered the Miss Teen USA changing rooms where girls as young as 15 were getting undressed.
‘I remember putting on my dress really quick because I was like, “Oh my God, there’s a man in here,”‘ Mariah Billado, Miss Teen Vermont 1997, told Buzzfeed.
‘He just came strolling right in,’ Miss Arizona 2001 Tasha Dixon added. ‘There was no second to put a robe on or any sort of clothing or anything.
‘Some girls were topless. Others girls were naked. Our first introduction to him was when we were at the dress rehearsal and half-naked changing into our bikinis.
‘To have the owner come waltzing in, when we’re naked, or half-naked, in a very physically vulnerable position and then to have the pressure of the people that worked for him telling us to go fawn all over him, go walk up to him, talk to him, get his attention…’ she added, trailing off.
Controversial winners: From racist slurs to nude photos to drug arrests, Miss USA, Miss America, and Miss Universe winners have had their crowns revoked for scandalous activity
Karlie Hay, now 24, from Texas, sparked controversy when old tweets containing racial slurs resurfaced after she took home the Miss Teen USA title in 2016
At the time, the then-18-year-old was accused of using the N-word in a tweet she had posted in 2013. She later apologized, explaining that she only used that language due to her own ‘personal struggles’
Karlie Hay, now 24, from Texas, sparked controversy when old tweets containing racial slurs resurfaced after she took home the Miss Teen USA title in 2016.
At the time, the then-18-year-old was accused of using the N-word in a tweet she had posted in 2013. While it had since been deleted, a screenshot showing her message went viral on the web.
In an Instagram post, Karlie spoke out about it, explaining that she only used that language due to her own ‘personal struggles’ and that it was ‘not representative of who she is as a person.’
‘Several years ago, I had many personal struggles and found myself in a place that is not representative of who I am as a person,’ she wrote.
‘I admit that I have used language publicly in the past which I am not proud of and that there is no excuse for.
‘Through hard work, education and thanks in large part to the sisterhood that I have come to know through pageants, I am proud to say that I am today a better person.
‘I am honored to hold this title and I will use this platform to promote the values of The Miss Universe Organization, and my own, that recognize the confidence, beauty and perseverance of all women.’
The Miss Universe Organization also addressed the tweet, stating that they will not be revoking her title and will ‘continue’ to support her ‘growth.’
And she’s not the only winner to face scandal. Miss Nevada 2007 Katie Rees (pictured in 2007), now 38, had her crown revoked after partially nude photos of her in a Florida nightclub were released
She also faced five felony drug charges in 2015 after she was allegedly caught possessing and selling meth
‘The language Karlie Hay used is unacceptable at any age and in no way reflects the values of the Miss Universe Organization,’ the organization said in a statement.
Vanessa Williams, now 59, made history when she became the first African-American woman to be named Miss America in 1984. However, after Penthouse magazine publish nude photos of her, she was forced to give up her title – a moment she later called one of the ‘lowest points of her life.’ She is seen in 1984
And she’s not the only winner to face scandal. Miss Nevada 2007 Katie Rees, now 38, had her crown revoked after partially nude photos of her in a Florida nightclub were released.
The photos had been taken three years earlier, but made their way around the internet after her win; in the sultry snaps, Rees was allegedly kissing other women and simulating other sexual acts.
‘These photographs were from an isolated incident during my teenage years,’ she said during a press conference, per Fox News.
‘This incident does not reflect who I am, or who I plan to be. I have no intention of further disgracing the state of Nevada, the Miss Universe organization, or Mr. Donald Trump.’
She also faced five felony drug charges in 2015 after she was allegedly caught possessing and selling meth.
Vanessa Williams, now 59, made history when she became the first African-American woman to be named Miss America in 1984.
However, after Penthouse magazine publish nude photos of her, which were taken years prior, she was forced to give up her title – a moment she later called one of the ‘lowest points of her life.’
She told People magazine that the pictures had been taken when she was working as a photographer’s assistant, and she had been assured at the time that they were ‘silhouettes’ and that she would not be identifiable in them, nor would they ever be made public.
Miss America later apologized to Williams, when she stepped on stage as a guest at the 2016 pageant.
Then-CEO Haskell said to her, ‘You have lived your life in grace and dignity, and never was it more evident than during the events of 1984 when you resigned.
Williams (pictured with Gary Collins after her win) told People that the pictures had been taken when she was working as a photographer’s assistant, and she had been assured that they were ‘silhouettes’ and that she would not be identifiable in them
Former Miss Kentucky Ramsey Carpenter-Bearse, now 30, admitted in December 2019 to selling nude photos of herself to a 15-year-old
She plead guilty to possessing material depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct and was sentenced to two years in prison for it
Other scandalous winners include Miss USA 2018 Sarah Rose Summers (left), who was seen mocking the way her fellow competitors spoke, and Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner (right), who was caught using cocaine eight months after her win
Arguably one of the pageants most controversial winners was former Miss Pennsylvania Brandi Weaver-Gates – who shaved her head and pretended she had leukemia while scamming people out of thousands of dollars
‘Though none of us currently in the organization were involved then, on behalf of today’s organization, I want to apologize to you.
Fundraisers were hosted in her honor, with tons of people across the globe stepping in to raise money for the fake patient. She was sentenced to two to four years in prison for her lies
‘I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less than the Miss America you are and the Miss America you always will be.’
Former Miss Kentucky Ramsey Carpenter-Bearse, now 30, admitted in December 2019 to selling nude photos of herself to a 15-year-old.
She plead guilty to possessing material depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct and was sentenced to two years in prison for it.
Other scandalous winners include Miss USA 2018 Sarah Rose Summers, who was seen mocking the way her fellow competitors spoke in an Instagram video, Miss USA 1994 Lu Parker, who was arrested for stealing a fellow passengers headphones at LAX in 2016, and Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, who was caught using cocaine eight months after her win.
Arguably one of the pageants most controversial winners was former Miss Pennsylvania Brandi Weaver-Gates – who shaved her head and pretended she had leukemia while scamming people out of thousands of dollars.
Fundraisers were hosted in her honor, with tons of people across the globe stepping in to raise money for the fake patient. She was sentenced to two to four years in prison for her lies.
On air blunder: Steve Harvey accidentally announced the wrong winner on national television during Miss Universe pageant
In 2015, Steve Harvey had an awkward mishap while hosting the Miss Universe pageant – when he accidentally announced the wrong winner as thousands watched on
He claimed that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez (left) had earned the title, when in reality, the real winner was Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (right)
In 2015, Steve Harvey had an awkward mishap while hosting the Miss Universe pageant – when he accidentally announced the wrong winner as thousands watched on.
He claimed that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez had earned the title, when in reality, the real winner was Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.
Harvey later called the moment ‘painful’ for him, stating on the Comedy Gold Minds with Kevin Hart podcast, ‘It was a painful f**king night there, dog. Oh God. I didn’t know the pain I was in. I didn’t know how bad the mistake was’
Gutierrez was seen crying as someone came and placed the crown on her head – but then, Harvey came back on stage and told the audience had had made a grave mistake.
‘I have to apologize,’ he said. ‘The first runner-up is Colombia. Miss Universe 2015 is Philippines.’
Both women stood frozen on the edge of the stage as they looked around stunned and confused, and the moment quickly became one of the most talked-about incidents in this history of reality TV.
Harvey later called the moment ‘painful’ for him, stating on the Comedy Gold Minds with Kevin Hart podcast, ‘It was a painful f**king night there, dog. Oh God. I didn’t know the pain I was in. I didn’t know how bad the mistake was.
‘I took my stupid a** back out there. I should have let them announce it the next day in the newspaper. I wouldn’t have caught none of the Hell I caught.’
The Family Feud host explained that the blunder came after a last minute change made by the production team.
The Family Feud host explained that the blunder came after a last minute change made by the production team. Gutierrez, who thought she had won but actually came in second, is seen above
In 2014, another grave mistake was made during the Miss Florida competition, in which Elizabeth Fechtel (seen) was told she was the winner – but officials later announced there had been a scoring error and Victoria Cowen would be moving on instead
He added: ‘I really didn’t make no f**king mistake. I did what they told me in my ear and I read that teleprompter.
‘I took the card out there and showed the third name that they handed to me from the stage, but I had my thumb on it, it wasn’t no third name. It was the worst week of my life.’
In 2014, another grave mistake was made during the Miss Florida competition, in which Elizabeth Fechtel was told she was the winner – but officials later announced there had been a scoring error and Victoria Cowen would be moving on instead.
‘Initially, it was completely devastating,’ Fletcher told People in a later interview. ‘But I still see immense opportunity. I can channel my energy to my platform whether or not I’m Miss Florida.’
Defamation lawsuit: Miss Florida USA was stripped of her title after she was accused of cheating – but she sued the pageant afterwards
Genesis Davila, now 31, was crowned as Miss Florida in 2017 – but the world was left stunned days later when she was stripped of her title and accused of cheating and using a professional hair and makeup team – which is strictly prohibited
Genesis Davila, now 31, was crowned as Miss Florida USA in 2017 – but the world was left stunned days later when she was stripped of her title and accused of cheating.
According to Grant Gravitt, the pageant’s executive director, Davila, who was 24 at the time, violated the competition’s rules by using a professional hair and makeup team.
At the time, Gravitt told ABC 10 that they had ‘substantial proof’ and that pageant organizers had received ‘multiple complaints from contestants’ from ‘eyewitnesses.’
‘We have a zero-tolerance policy on rules,’ he said. ‘Whether it’s something major or minor, it’s all about keeping an equal and level playing field.
‘Unfortunately, our title holder sought an unfair competitive advantage, and that’s just not acceptable in our system. She made a poor life choice.
‘When one steps out of line, it’s not fair to the other 64, and I couldn’t look at the other 64 in the eye knowing that I had substantial proof to say, unfortunately, she sought an unfair advantage.’
Davila, however, later called the allegations against her ‘false. She then filed a lawsuit against the owners of the Miss Florida USA pageant for $15 million, seeking damages for defamation; the suit was later dismissed
Runner-up Linette De Los Santos received the title instead.
Davila, however, later called the allegations against her ‘false’ and told NBC Miami that the professional artist in question was a family friend, and that she did not help her get ready.
‘I still feel like I’m Miss Florida USA because I was crowned Miss Florida USA that night,’ she said.
‘Even though all these false accusations and allegations and rumors have been wandering all over social media, I know that I have proof to show the world that none of this is true.’
She then filed a lawsuit against the owners of the Miss Florida USA pageant for $15 million, seeking damages for defamation; the suit was later dismissed.
Nasty feuds: Contestants and past winners at Miss Sri Lanka and Miss Amazon competitions snatched the crown off another’s head
Pushpika De Silva, who won Miss Sri Lanka in April 2020, was left ‘injured’ after past winner Caroline Jurie ripped her crown off her head in a dramatic moment, which left audiences stunned
Jurie told viewers that De Silva didn’t deserve to win because she had been previously married – but De Silva later denied this
De Silva (pictured) said she had suffered from ‘injuries to her skull’ as a result of the incident, and that she was taking ‘legal action’
Pushpika De Silva, who won Miss Sri Lanka in April 2020, was left ‘injured’ after past winner Caroline Jurie ripped her crown off her head in a dramatic moment, which left audiences stunned.
Moments after De Silva was crowned as the winner – Jurie, who had won the previous year, stormed over, snatched the tiara from her and gave it to the runner-up.
Jurie told viewers that De Silva didn’t deserve to win because she had been previously married – but De Silva later denied this.
‘I responsibly say that I am not a divorced woman,’ she wrote on Facebook afterwards. ‘If I am divorced, I challenge them to submit my divorce papers.’
She added that she had suffered from ‘injuries to her skull’ as a result of the incident, and that she was taking ‘legal action.’
‘So, even though that symbolic crown has been snatched from my head, I would like to inform you that I have already taken the necessary legal action for the injustice and insult that has taken place.
‘A real queen is not a woman who snatches another woman’s crown, but a woman who secretly sets the other woman’s crown.’
Chandimal Jayasinghe, the national director of Mrs. Sri Lanka World, told BBC that the crown was returned to De Silva and called Jurie’s actions a ‘disgrace.’
In 2015, a similar situation went down at the Miss Amazon pageant, when contestant Sheislane Hayalla snatched the crown off the head of winner Carol Toledo.
Hayalla later told Globo, ‘She didn’t deserve the title.’