The Miss Universe Organization and its chief executive have issued statements defending their 2023 champion, Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel, amid allegations that the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants were rigged.
Over the weekend, Gabriel was crowned Miss Universe after already making history in October as the first Filipina American woman to hold the title of Miss USA. The Texas-born model and fashion designer's groundbreaking achievements have been sullied, however, by other contestants and internet trolls alleging that the competitions were fixed in her favor.
In a statement provided Wednesday to the Los Angeles Times, the Miss Universe Organization vehemently dismissed the "false" rigging allegations as "absurd." Chief executive Amy Emmerich also pointed out that a law firm conducted an independent investigation into the Miss USA controversy last year and determined that "the rigging allegations were unfounded."
