Miss Montana has doubled down on her claims the Miss USA pageant was rigged and has slammed the group for utilizing her and different contestants as ‘puppets’ to showboat the ‘predetermined winner.’
Heather Lee O’Keefe, 25, of Bozeman, stated she and her different contestants have been paraded round for the sake of the present, despite the fact that all of them knew Miss Texas can be topped.
‘I do really feel like we have been all used as puppets to only placed on this present of Miss USA, simply to placed on the present of a pageant’ she advised DailyMail.com in an unique interview.
‘I really feel like, and numerous different contestants really feel like, that they had already predetermined the winner. We have been simply there as puppets to placed on this present for them to make it appear to be there was a pageant,’ she continued. ‘That is how we really feel. That is our personal opinion.’
When ask why she particularly thought Miss Texas R’Bonney Gabriel, 28, of Houston, was allegedly chosen because the winner previous to the competitors, she stated she ‘did not know’ the explanation, however that favoritism performed a big function.
‘The one factor I do know was that there was clear and convincing favoritism towards her within the competitors and main as much as the competitors. She acquired extra sources than we did. That’s the root of the difficulty.’
Miss USA organizers and Gabriel have denied claims the competition was rigged.
Heather Lee O’Keefe, 25, of Bozeman, stated she and her different contestants have been paraded round for the sake of the present, despite the fact that all of them knew Miss Texas can be topped. She has doubled down on claims that the pageant was rigged
R’Bonney Gabriel took the crown on Monday night time, however was left alone on stage after her fellow contestant left after her crowning. She has denied that the competition was rigged
‘It is very messy,’ the sweetness queen continued. ‘However I believe all of the information level to the truth that she was a favourite, and she or he did obtain preferential therapy.
‘I’ve completely nothing in opposition to Miss USA 2022 as an individual. I believe she’s completely gorgeous she’s attractive. She additionally labored so onerous for this however I believe it is unlucky that the encompassing circumstances have tainted her win, as a result of all of us agree she might have one on her personal advantage.
‘We simply want that there wasn’t a lot favoritism in the direction of her beforehand and we want that it simply would have appeared like a extra honest competitors.’
Miss USA President Crystle Stewart – who gained the pageant in 2008 and was a former Miss Texas – has denied all accusations the Class of 2022 have ahead with.
Gabriel, a dressmaker, stated the competitors ‘was not rigged, as a result of I might by no means enter any pageant or any competitors that I might know I might win. I’ve numerous integrity’
In an announcement to DailyMail.com, Stewart wrote: ‘I might not don’t something, reminiscent of a ‘rig a contest’ that I fought so onerous for to win, and jeopardize that hope. The equity of the pageant and the well-being of each contestant is my high precedence.
‘The allegations in opposition to the Miss USA Group are deceptive and in opposition to the whole lot I stand for personally and professionally.’
Miss Universe, which runs Miss USA, is conducting an inner investigation into the contestants’ claims.
‘We’re conscious of the issues which were introduced forth by this 12 months’s Miss USA contestants. We commend the ladies for bringing these points to our consideration and can at all times be a corporation that encourages girls to make use of their voice. We firmly imagine everybody has a proper to specific their ideas and experiences with out retaliation and bullying,’ the Miss Universe Group advised DailyMail.com in an announcement.
Stewart additionally revealed to DailyMail.com on Friday that Miss USA would even be conducting a ‘evaluation to asses[s] our workers and different personnel to make sure that there was equity, non-discrimination, and no favoritism amongst the contestants.’
O’Keefe is just not satisfied the investigations will go anyplace, since Miss Universe President Paula Shugart and Stewart are shut.
O’Keefe says there’s ‘inherent bias’ towards Texas winners as a result of virtually the ‘total workers is from Houston’ however Gabriel dismisses declare, saying ‘it must be [from] some state’
Stewart (pictured in 2015) was the earlier Miss USA titleholder in 2008 and was additionally Miss Texas. O’Keefe stated the ‘total workers’ is from the Houston space, the place Gabriel is situated
Miss USA President Crystle Stewart, who gained the pageant in 2008, took over in 2020 and in addition owns Miss Academy – a pageant coaching course – is predicated in Houston. The proprietor of Miss Model, which owns the pageant, can be based mostly in Texas.
‘I believe this can be a massive challenge that numerous us are attempting to convey mild to is the actual fact [Stewart] owns a lot of the group. She owns the primary group, Miss USA, and she or he additionally owns the the primary sponsor of the group which is a giant challenge all of us have with it.’
‘Miss Academy sponsored Miss Texas rather more than they sponsored the remainder of us contestants.’
She revealed to DailyMail.com that Gabriel acquired free teaching from Miss Academy – which may value from $1,500 to $14,000 – whereas the remainder of the ladies have been solely provided free on-line workshops.
Many contestants additionally flew to Houston to take in-person courses are they have been ‘strongly inspired’ to take action, O’Keefe stated.
‘[Contestants] felt the necessity to try this due to the truth that it was a nationwide sponsor, and we felt pressured that if we wished to do effectively at Miss USA, we needed to work with Miss Academy and pay that cash out of our personal pocket to take action.’
O’Keefe advised DailyMail.com that she didn’t attend any in-person session and spent zero {dollars} on coaching from Miss Academy, who additionally provided on-line and a la carte courses.
‘And I did not place,’ she laughed.
Nonetheless, in an interview with E! Information’ The Rundown, Gabriel insisted she wasn’t favored as a result of she was from Texas.
‘It must be [from] some state, it simply so occurs to be mine,’ she advised The Rundown. ‘It is only a coincidence that I’m from Texas and lot of the group staff is as effectively.’
Contestants aren’t allowed to work with Miss USA nationwide sponsorships previous to the competitors, however Gabriel stated others have achieved it
Gabriel was seen in a sponsored video from NIZUC spas lower than 24 hours after her crowning, showing to have loved her prize, however the magnificence queen stated she was only a model ambassador for the corporate. MIA Beaute, which opened a spa at NIZUC resorts in Mexico, was a sponsor of Miss Texas and Gabriel stated lots of people work as model ambassadors for nationwide sponsors previous to Miss USA
Nonetheless, O’Keefe insisted to DailyMail.com that that was a violation of the handbook for contestants to work with nationwide sponsors previous to successful
A serious incident that riled fellow Class of 2022 contestants the NIZUC Resort and Spa advert that got here out lower than 24 hours after Gabriel was topped.
NIZUC, which presents a prize to the winner, posted an advert exhibiting the newly-minted Miss USA seemingly having fun with its providers, which acquired some questioning how she already loved the reward previous to successful.
Gabriel stated she was merely a model ambassador for the corporate’s affiliate MIA Beaute, which additionally sponsors the Miss Texas pageant and was opening a brand new spa on the NIZUC resort in Mexico.
‘I used to be a model ambassador for MIA after I gained my title as Miss Texas. And once we acquired to Miss USA, the ladies have been type of questioning: ‘What’s taking place right here?’
However there’s been numerous instances the place titleholders will work with sponsors for Miss USA earlier than the competitors and that will likely be promoted after the competitors in the event that they win or not,’ she advised The Rundown.
She additionally claimed that NIZUC ‘didn’t fly me out, I flew myself out’.
O’Keefe did not appear satisfied, telling DailyMail.com on Friday: ‘At first [she said] NIZUC Resort flew her there, then she stated she paid for it herself.
‘What I do know from my expertise as a model ambassador…They often pay on your journey bills to get to wherever you are going to be a model ambassador. So I believe it is just a little bit bizarre that she’s saying she paid to go on this journey to be a model ambassador, as a result of often while you’re a model ambassador, they pay so that you can be there.’
She went to say that the sponsorship – whether or not taken as a person or as Miss Texas – violated the Miss USA handbook.
‘So we do not know if that is attempting to cowl one thing else up, or what, however what we do know is that it’s explicitly prohibited in our contestant handbook and our contestant contract, that we aren’t allowed to work as people with the nationwide sponsor.
‘So she is saying that she did this on her personal advantage, no matter that or not. It is prohibited, and it was in opposition to the roles.’
Contestants who’re contacted to be ambassadors by sponsors are supposedly presupposed to report it to the nationwide board, O’Keefe advised DailyMail.com.
As well as, it isn’t simply the promotional video that acquired contestants riled up, however the truth that one of many judges on the Miss USA competitors was the founding father of MIA.
The founder additionally allegedly posted a photograph of Miss Texas on his Instagram story, which swirled the rumor mill much more.
‘Ever since Miss Texas was topped a pair months in the past, she has been proven favoritism by the Miss USA group via their companies which might be additionally all owned by the identical lady,’ O’Keefe stated on her social media.
One factor’s for certain: Contestants left the stage after the crowning, but it surely’s not very clear what occurred backstage as O’Keefe and Gabriel tales do not match up
Some of the defining moments of the 2022 Miss USA contest was when the opposite magnificence queens left the stage after the crowning. Because the credit rolled, the runner-ups may be seen leaving the stage, which is an uncommon sight. Usually, the runners-up stand with a compelled smile and clap because the credit roll – however there have been no such pleasantries on the finish of this 12 months’s pageant. Gabriel stated the producers advised them to depart the stage resulting from a time constraint
O’Keefe claims she was ‘on her personal’ backstage, however Gabriel stated that they ‘all hugged me’ and have been advised to depart the stage resulting from a timing constraint
Some of the defining moments of the 2022 Miss USA contest was when the opposite magnificence queens left the stage after the crowning.
Because the credit rolled, the runner-ups may be seen leaving the stage, which is an uncommon sight.
Usually, the runners-up stand with a compelled smile and clap because the credit roll – however there have been no such pleasantries on the finish of this 12 months’s pageant.
Former Miss USA contestant Jasmine Jones, who has been in pageantry for 10 years, claimed it was ‘apparent’ that the competition was rigged when the ladies started leaving the stage.
‘In any pageant you have ever been in, the manufacturing supervisor tells you you keep on stage till she’s achieved, you stand there and also you clap,’ she stated in a TikTok.
‘Within the background, ladies have been actually clapping [weakly] and so they began exiting the stage earlier than she even rotated for her congratulatory hug from different contestants.’
‘Earlier than she even acquired midway down the runway for her crowning second, the contestants behind her have been exiting the stage.’
She stated it was a ‘massive tell-all’ that ‘one thing was off.’
In an Instagram Stay on Wednesday, O’Keefe agreed that early exit was ‘unprecedented’ and had ‘by no means occurred earlier than.’
The wonder queen claimed it was ‘not deliberate’ and it wasn’t achieved due to ‘bitter’ emotions.
Many contestants have come ahead to say they don’t have anything in opposition to Gabriel (pictured at her crowning)
‘All of us simply acted, within the second, what we thought was proper,’ she stated through the stay broadcast on Wednesday. ‘We’re a category of Division I athletes, Harvard alumni, attorneys, docs, scientists, and individuals who fought for his or her citizenship to this nation.
‘We’re the farthest factor from sore losers.’
She advised DailyMail.com on Friday that the second was ‘all of our worst nightmare’ and it was ‘disheartening to know that we did not even have an opportunity to lose, not to mention win.’
Nonetheless, Gabriel was insistent that they did not go away the stage over her win.
‘I didn’t suppose so,’ she advised The Rundown. ‘One thing I heard from manufacturing was that our time was minimize brief, so the ladies could not come out to the stage as a result of there wasn’t time and so they did not need the ladies to enter that bubble and possibly fall.
‘However once I went again to the ladies, all of them hugged me.’
She additionally stated she ‘acquired together with all the ladies she encountered’ and she or he ‘wasn’t conscious’ of any rumor that her win was rigged.
Nonetheless, O’Keefe advised DailyMail.com that Gabriel was ‘on her personal’ when she acquired backstage.
An inside supply stated the 2020 and 2021 winners have been advised by the group to put up Professional-Miss USA statements on social media, O’Keefe claims
Asya Department and Elle Smith, who gained in 2020 and 2021 respectively, have been advised to launch Professional-Miss USA statements, O’Keefe stated an inside supply advised her.
‘We have been advised by insider sources that they have been, the truth is, instructed to launch these movies of themselves, sticking up for the group and for the brand new Miss USA,’ O’Keefe advised DailyMail.com.
Though it’s unclear who the supply is, O’Keefe stated the particular person comes ‘immediately throughout the Miss USA Board of Administrators.’
O’Keefe claimed they have been the one ones to return out and assist the group and that is as a result of they labored immediately beneath Stewart, as titleholder.
‘They want somebody on their aspect, as a result of all of us are talking out in opposition to them. In order that they’re attempting to, you understand, they arrive again at us with people who work for them,’ O’Keefe advised DailyMail.com.
Gabriel has not publicly spoken on about this matter.
Miss Texas was the one one to get FREE commercial from Miss Academy, whereas the opposite ladies needed to promote advert pages to get promoted, O’Keefe claims
Miss Texas was additionally reportedly the ‘just one’ featured on the official Miss USA web page, a transfer O’Keefe stated ‘no different state contestant acquired.’
The put up was ultimately taken down and an apology was issued, in keeping with O’Keefe, who stated that fueled the favoritism rumors much more.
For different ladies, like O’Keefe, to be featured in group associates’ TikTok, they needed to promote advert pages to enter this system e-book.
If a contestant offered one advert web page, their TikTok can be reposted on the primary account. In the event that they offered two pages, they’d get a social media takeover, O’Keefe stated.
O’Keefe managed to promote one web page and stated her TikTok was featured on the account.
The viral hair second was really taken the day after the crowning, Gabriel claims, however O’Keefe insists others have advised her knowledgeable hair and make-up staff have been seen sneaking out of the winner’s room
A photograph of Stewart (pictured in black) doing Gabriel’s hair went viral, sparking issues that she acquired preferential therapy. Nonetheless, Gabriel insisted the photograph was taken the day after she gained when she was getting her Miss USA official headshots, however different contestants have privately advised O’Keefe they noticed skilled hair and make-up popping out of her resort room
A photograph of Stewart doing Gabriel’s hair backstage has been circulating.
The seemingly harmless photograph of Stewart pulling the winner’s hair into a decent ponytail is proof of her favoritism, the opposite contestants have claimed.
Nonetheless, Gabriel stated it occurred the day after the crowning proper earlier than her official Miss USA headshots.
‘That is the very first thing I did after I gained was get up the subsequent day and do hair and make-up and Crystle was there, after all,’ she advised The Rundown. ‘She stepped in and truly in my hair as a result of she stated: ‘Hey, I can do a snatched ponytail’ and I stated: ‘I would like to see it.’
‘So she hopped in and did it,’ she defined. ‘Sadly, it seems prefer it possibly occurred earlier than I gained, however that’s my official Miss USA headshot after I gained.’
O’Keefe claimed ‘numerous ladies’ have come to her privately, saying ‘they noticed a hair and make-up artist popping out of her resort room.’
‘I did not see it with my very own eyes, so I can not converse to that. However I do know there are a number of contestants coming ahead saying that they noticed her receiving particular hair and make-up help when the remainder of us weren’t given that chance,’ she advised DailyMail.com.
