Shola Lee
Miss USA 2022 has hit back at rumours that the competition was 'rigged' after a fellow contestant came out with claims against her.
R’Bonney Gabriel addressed the rumours, explaining that there was no favouritism towards her, despite Miss Montana, Heather Lee O'Keefe, taking to TikTok to claim otherwise.
In her video, O'Keefe says she and the other contestants feel 'very strongly that there was favouritism' towards Gabriel.
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The speculation started on TikTok, with Miss Montana saying: 'Most of the Miss USA contestants feel very strongly that there was favouritism towards Miss Texas USA, and we have the receipts to prove it.
"We are putting our titles on the line, putting our reputations on the line," she added.
A series of allegations were then made against Gabriel and the pageant, including that the winner received a sponsored vacation at the NIZUC resort, which sponsors the competition.
Gabriel could be seen in a promo video for the resort that was released shortly after she won.
O'Keefe took to Instagram to say: "@MissUSA was crowned less than 24 hours ago, yet she already got her sponsored vacation to @NIZUCResort. Are you kidding me? I was giving y’all the benefit of the doubt, but this is just embarrassing at this point."
Explaining her side of things, Gabriel said: "I want to start by saying it was not rigged because I would never enter any pageant, or any competition, that I know I would win.
"I have a lot of integrity, and just for context, I think a lot of people are talking about maybe seeing me promote a sponsor that is a Miss USA sponsor, but this sponsor MIA they are a Miss Texas USA sponsor.
"So, I was a brand ambassador for MIA after I won my title as Miss Texas, and then when we got to Miss USA the girls were kind of wondering what's happening here but there's been a lot of times where title holders will work with sponsors for Miss USA before the competition and then that will be promoted after the competition if they win or not.
She also cleared up allegations that the brand flew her out to NIZUC before winning, explaining: "Just to clarify the sponsor did not fly me out, I flew myself out. So, after I won Miss Texas USA they are sponsors, and they invited me to be a brand ambassador for their new spot at NIZUC resort. So, I flew myself out, shot the video, and that was released after I won Miss USA."
In a statement to UNILAD, Miss Universe Organization said: "We are aware of the concerns that have been brought forth by this year’s Miss USA contestants. We commend the women for bringing these issues to our attention and will always be an organization that encourages women to use their voice.
"We firmly believe everyone has a right to express their thoughts and experiences without retaliation and bullying. There are existing systems in place to ensure the fairness of our national competitions and as such we have begun an active review into this situation."