The Miss Universe Organization suspended Miss USA President Crystle Stewart and her company, Miss Brand Corporation, pending an inquiry into pageant rigging claims.
“After thorough deliberation, Miss Universe Organization has decided to suspend Miss Brand immediately,” the Miss Universe Organization said in a statement
Stewart stated that she is cooperating with the investigation but denies any allegations that the pageant was rigged.
The current allegations that the 2022 Miss USA pageant favored one contestant over another are misleading and simply not true, Stewart said in a statement.
Following the Oct. 3 pageant, numerous Miss USA competitors took to social media to question if Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel's victory was influenced by favoritism.
Miss America Heather Lee O'Keefe alleged in a TikTok video that the "drama" began when a sponsor published a video of Gabriel enjoying a luxury spa hours after Gabriel won.
Gabriel said in an interview that the spa sponsored Miss Texas USA and that after she won the title, she paid her own way to the spa and made a video there.
The suspicions began when fans noticed that the crowning ceremony was not as usual. One Tiktoker dissected the crowning and contrasted it with previous years.
TikToker reveals that R'Bonney Gabriel isn't celebrated as Miss USA. Other contestants leave the stage early, so only the hosts hug the winner.
Gabriel is going to represent the U.S. at the Miss Universe pageant in January. Despite the controversy, she says she's still excited for the chance.