The Miss Universe Organization has denied allegations that the beauty pageant was rigged to allow R’Bonney Gabriel of the United States to win the pageant, calling the claims “absurd”.
Gabriel’s win on Saturday night was controversial, with Anne Jakrajutatip, the Thai transgender businesswoman who bought Miss Universe last year, accused of foul play.
But organizers said the allegations were “false” and “preposterous,” adding that the claims “distracted” from Gabriel becoming the first Filipino-American to be crowned Miss Universe.
And Miss Universe CEO Amy Emmerich said the results of the competition had been processed and verified by a leading accounting firm after Gabriel, 28, defeated second-place Miss Venezuela, Amanda Dudamel.
The Miss Universe CEO has denied allegations that the beauty pageant was rigged to allow R’Bonney Gabriel of the United States to win the pageant. Pictured: Gabriel beams as she is crowned Miss Universe in New Orleans on Saturday night
Gabriel’s victory on Saturday night was the subject of controversy, with Anne Jakrajutatip (pictured at the Miss Universe pageant January 14 in Miss Orleans), the Thai transgender businesswoman who bought Miss Universe, being accused of foul play
“One of the top four accounting firms in the United States edited the results and reviewed the process,” Emmerich told TMZ.
Jakrajutatip, CEO and largest shareholder of JKN Global Group Pcl (JKN), has been accused of rigging the Miss Universe pageant to allow Gabriel, who became Miss USA in October, to win.
The billionaire Thai media mogul bought the rights to Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA for $20 million last year. The pageant system was previously owned by former US President Donald Trump.
Critics have pointed out that Jakrajutatip’s JKN company owns both Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants and have suggested that Gabriel, who became the first Filipino-American to win Miss Universe, was preselected to win Sunday night’s pageant.
But Emmerich told TMZ: “The allegations regarding the manipulation of Miss Universe are false.
“People who say it’s ‘suspicious’ that the JKN Global Group owns both Miss Universe and Miss USA are unfamiliar with the history of the organizations.”
Emmerich added that Gabriel, a Texas fashion designer, model and sewing instructor, is a “strong and dedicated candidate” who is the “rightful Miss Universe.”
The Miss Universe Organization also said in a statement, “The false tampering allegations are absurd and distract from the incredible milestones experienced by our organization and delegates this weekend.”
But Miss Universe CEO Amy Emmerich said the results of the competition had been processed and verified by a leading auditing firm after Gabriel, 28, (centre) defeated second-place Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel (left).
Amy Emmerich (pictured January 12 in New Orleans), the CEO of Miss Universe, said the results of the competition were processed and verified by a leading accounting firm
The controversy over Gabriel’s victory at Miss Universe this weekend comes just months after she became Miss USA on October 3.
Contestants accused the “awakened” Miss USA of favoritism for Gabriel and selecting her to win because she is Filipina – making her the first Filipino-American to be crowned at the competition.
Gabriel denied the allegations against her at the time, saying there was “no unfair advantage” and that she “would never enter any pageant or competition that I knew I would win”.
In fact, Emmerich told TMZ yesterday that an independent law firm has been hired to investigate allegations that the Miss USA campaign in October was rigged.
She said the law firm determined the allegations were unfounded.
But other American Miss USA contestants at the time said that Gabriel’s victory was the result of “favouritism”.
The legitimacy of her win was also questioned by competitors, who said it was suspicious that a beauty treatment company offering a prize to the winner featured Gabriel in an ad less than 24 hours after she won.
Gabriel appeared in an ad for NIZUC Spas less than 24 hours after she won the Miss USA pageant, leading other contestants to believe the pageant had been rigged from the start.
Miss Montana, Heather Lee O’Keefe, claimed the ads proved the winner was chosen unfairly.
“@MissUSA was crowned less than 24 hours ago but she already got her sponsored vacation at @NIZUCResort,” she wrote.
The controversy surrounding Gabriel’s victory at Miss Universe over the weekend comes just months after she became Miss USA on October 3 (pictured).
She added: “Are you kidding me? I thought you were right, but that’s just embarrassing at this point.’
In her defense, Gabriel claimed she is a brand ambassador for NIZUC’s subsidiary, MIA Beaute, which also sponsors the Miss Texas pageant and is opening a new spa at the NIZUC resort in Mexico.
However, doubters didn’t necessarily buy the apology, noting that MIA’s founder is one of the judges of the Miss USA pageant. O’Keefe claimed that Gabriel’s ambassadorship was a violation of the handbook and that no contestant should have been allowed to work with national sponsors of Miss USA.
The controversy turned for Gabriel when a picture circulated of Crystle Stewart, one of the Miss USA organizers, doing his hair backstage. The image served as greater fodder for claims of favoritism.
However, Gabriel said the photo was taken the day after the coronation, just before Miss USA was officially shot in the head.
Ms Jakrajutatip bought Miss USA and Miss Universe in the days after the controversy first surfaced.
The businesswoman, who has more than seven million followers on Instagram, went from working at a gas station to owning a billionaire media and content conglomerate.
Her company has worked with media giants such as Walt Disney, CBS and Sony, and has also brought Korean, Chinese and Indian productions to Thai television.
She also appeared in the Thai version of Shark Tank and Project Runway.
On Saturday night, Gabriel was crowned Miss Universe. She was wrapped in the winner’s sash and crowned with a tiara onstage at the 71st Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans.
In the Q&A in the final phase of the competition for the three finalists, Gabriel was asked how she would work to demonstrate that Miss Universe is “an empowering and progressive organization” if she won.
“I would use it to be a transformational leader,” she replied, citing her work using recycled materials in her fashion design and teaching survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence to sew.
“It’s so important to invest in others, invest in our community, and use your unique talent to make a difference,” Gabriel continued. “We all have something special, and when we plant those seeds on other people in our lives, we transform them and use that as a vehicle for change.”
Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel on Saturday night became the 9th Miss USA to win the global competition in its 71-year history
According to Miss Universe, Gabriel is a former high school volleyball player and a graduate of the University of North Texas. A brief bio posted to the organization’s website states that she is also the CEO of her own sustainable clothing line.
Nearly 90 participants from around the world took part in the competition, organizers said, which included “personal statements, in-depth interviews and various categories including evening dresses and swimwear.”
Saturday night’s pageant was held in New Orleans to honor the late Cheslie Kryst, who was crowned Miss USA 2019 at the same venue.
The pageant paid tribute to Kryst, who jumped to her death in New York City last January, just weeks after appearing as a correspondent for the 70th Miss Universe pageant.
Kryst’s mom took to the stage Saturday to announce that the National Alliance on Mental Illness has established the Cheslie Kryst Memorial Fund for Mental Health in her honor.
“Cheslie struggled with high-functioning depression,” her mother, April Simpkins, said on the competition stage. “The Chelsie you saw didn’t always match her inner feelings. Just because someone tells you they’re fine doesn’t mean they’re fine.’