Donald Trump is a real estate mogul, reality TV star, and of course, the man who became president.
But long before politics, he ran the Miss Universe organization, which includes Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA. Behind the crowns and glitter, his time at the pageants was full of controversy and moments that made many contestants uncomfortable.
Trump bought the pageant in 1996 and owned it until 2015. During that time, he was involved in moments that made contestants and staff very uncomfortable. From influencing who advanced in the competition to walking into dressing rooms while women and even teenage girls were changing, Trump’s pageant years were full of troubling behavior.
Even when he wasn’t judging, Trump had power over who made it to the finals. Kerrie Baylis, Miss Jamaica 2013, told The New Yorker, “The list looked like the countries that Donald Trump did business with, or wanted to do business with.” Basically, it was less about talent or poise and more about deals and dollars.
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Some of the most shocking claims involved Trump entering dressing rooms. Contestants said this happened at both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.
On Howard Stern’s radio show in 2005, Trump said, “And everyone is getting dressed and ready, and everything else and then there are no men or anywhere, and I’m allowed to go in because I’m the owner of the pageant and therefore I’m inspecting it… And you see this incredible-looking women. And so I sort of get away with things like that.”
Samantha Holvey, Miss North Carolina 2006, described it to CNN: “He would step in front of each girl and look you over from head to toe like we were just meat, we were just sexual objects, that we were not people… You know when a gross guy at the bar is checking you out? It’s that feeling.”
Tasha Dixon, Miss Arizona 2001, said Trump came in while contestants were partially or fully naked. Mariah Billado, Miss Teen Vermont 1997, remembered quickly putting on her dress. “Oh my god, there’s a man in here,” she said.
Trump also mocked winners. Alicia Machado, Miss Venezuela 1996, won Miss Universe at 19. After she gained weight, Trump called her “Miss Piggy” and “Miss Housekeeping,” according to The Guardian. Machado said this caused years of disordered eating. Trump defended himself on Fox and Friends, saying, “She gained a massive amount of weight. It was a real problem. She was the worst we ever had.”
His comments about Mexicans in 2015 made things worse. He said, “They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists, and some I assume are good people.”
Univision and NBC refused to air the Miss USA pageant. Trump sued NBC, bought out their shares, and later sold the pageant to WME/IMG.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
