Miss Universe scandals include Anyella Grados, Steve Harvey and Alicia Machado. Images via Instagram @anyellapamela @iamsteveharveytv @machadooficial.
Secret pregnancy, alcohol & body shaming: Five Miss Universe scandals
From a secret pregnancy to being called ‘Miss Piggy’ by Donald Trump, here is a look at five of the most shocking Miss Universe scandals.
Miss Universe scandals include Anyella Grados, Steve Harvey and Alicia Machado. Images via Instagram @anyellapamela @iamsteveharveytv @machadooficial.
Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane will still be competing in the 70th editional of the Miss Universe pageant on 12 December amid the backlash she has been receiving.
LALELA MSWANE’S MISS UNIVERSE DRAMA
The Miss Universe pageant is set to be held on 12 December in Israel. Israel is described as an apartheid state due to their treatment of Palestinians. Therefore, there are several calls for Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane to boycott the pageant.
The Miss South Africa organisation affirmed that they are not a political organisation — So, Lalela will still compete at the Miss Universe pageant. The South African government has since withdrawn support for Miss South Africa to compete at the pageant.
FIVE SHOCKING MISS UNIVERSE SCANDALS
1. BODY SHAMED BY DONALD TRUMP
After being crowned Miss Universe in 1996, Alicia Machado was body-shamed by organisers who claimed she was “drastically gaining weight”. Donald Trump, who was a co-owner of the Miss Universe organisation at the time called her “Miss Piggy” and an “eating machine.”
2. A SECRET PREGNANCY
Miss Universe Puerto Rico (1994) Brenda Robles competed while she was pregnant. She was later stripped of her title because the rules state contestants cannot be married nor pregnant.
“No, contestants may not be married or pregnant. They must not have ever been married, not had a marriage annulled nor given birth to, or parented a child. The titleholders are also required to remain unmarried throughout their reign,” according to the pageant’s website.
The beauty queen was also sentenced to a year of probation in 2005 for shoplifting.
3. AN ALCOHOL-FUELED NIGHT OUT
Former Miss Universe Peru Anyella Grados (2019) was disqualified from the global competition and stripped of her title after a video of an alcohol-fueled night out surfaced online.
In the video, the beauty queen was seen “drunk and throwing up” which went against the rules of the competition. The video was reportedly recorded by Miss Teen Peru Camilla Canicoba (2018), who claimed she mistakenly posted the video.
4. STEVE HARVEY’S WINNER MIX-UP
Miss Universe host Steve Harvey made one of the hugest on-air blunders of all time in 2015. He wrongfully announced that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez won the title while Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach was the actual winner.
The comedian walked back up on stage and apologised for his error saying that Miss Philippines actually won.
“The first runner up is Colombia… Miss Philippines, take your first walk as Miss Universe,” said Steve.
5. TRANSGENDER WOMEN NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER
Miss Universe Canada disqualified Jenna Talackova from the pageant in 2012 because she was not born female. However, she did not give up that easily and successfully lobbied the rules that barred transgender women from enetring the competition. She returned to the national competition where she earned a spot in the top 12.
The beauty queen went on to sign a reality TV show deal titled Brave New Girls. The reality series documented her battle to compete in the pageant.
