Miss USA 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel Denies Allegations That Pageant Was ‘Rigged’ in Her Favor

Miss USA 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel is responding to allegations made via her fellow contestants about her win at this year’s festival.

Gabriel, 28, made history on Monday whilst she turned into topped, turning into the first Filipino-American winner.

Shortly after her historic win, Miss Montana Heather Lee O’Keefe alleged that several contestants felt like there had been “favoritism in the direction of Miss Texas USA.”

Other contestants also spoke out on social media, claiming they felt like they by no means had “a fair chance” at the crown.

“The contemporary allegations are based on perception, and now not the reality,” Gabriel tells people in a assertion. “I would by no means want to go into a competition that was rigged.”

“I know all the contestants labored without a doubt difficult to put together and I do not want those allegations to overshadow the accomplishments of all of the women who participated in this 12 months’s Miss USA competition,” she brought. “I recognise how hard each lady worked and I need their efforts to additionally be acknowledged.

At this time, I am excited to move ahead with education for Miss Universe and all of the opportunities that the Miss USA Organization will offer, whilst expanding on my non-public platform for sustainable fashion and advocating for charity companions Best Buddies and Smile Train.”

In a sequence of posts on social media, O’Keefe alleged the Miss USA 2022 festival can also had been “rigged.”

“Bottom line is, most of the Miss USA contestants sense very strongly that there has been favoritism toward Miss Texas USA and we’ve got the receipts to prove it,” O’Keefe claimed in a TikTok video posted on Wednesday. Among her allegations, O’Keefe pointed to a series of social media posts from the Nizuc Resort and Spa, that’s a sponsor of the country wide Miss USA Pageant.

One video became shared less than 24 hours after Gabriel turned into crowned, while an Instagram tale spotlight providing Gabriel become posted nine weeks in advance.

In one video, O’Keefe claimed that Gabriel turned into allegedly flown to Mexico on United Airlines, a sponsor of each Miss Texas USA and Miss USA, in July to visit MIA Beauté, that’s a sponsor of the national Miss USA Pageant and the State Miss Texas USA Pageant, at their location at Nizuc Resort and Spa.

During a Thursday appearance on E! News: The Rundown, Gabriel said she individually paid to fly herself to Mexico for a promotional video as Miss Texas USA.

Miss Montana USA additionally raised worries about a picture of Gabriel and Crystle Stewart, President of the Miss USA Organization, in step with The New York Post.

Speaking with E! News, Gabriel stated the photograph changed into taken out of context.

“Unfortunately, it seems like that occurred perhaps before I won,” she said. “But that was my legit Miss USA headshot photo shoot when I received.”

In a announcement shared with people, Stewart said “the equity of the pageant and the nicely being of every and every contestant is my top priority.”

“As the primary African American girl in this leadership position I take this position with all seriousness and regard. When I won Miss Texas USA, Miss USA and extra these days, have become President of the Miss USA Organization many girls of colour were inspired and full of hope. I might not do not something, which include ‘rig a opposition’ that I fought so hard for,” she wrote.

“The allegations against the Miss USA Organization are deceptive and against the entirety I stand for for my part and professionally.” “I hope the Class of 2022 will include this ancient win and try and recognize my project and vision for the Miss USA Organization; which is to provide resources, studies, and possibilities to be efficient and successful ladies,” Stewart delivered.

“This is how I consider pageantry.” Other contestants, which include Miss New York Heather Nunez and Miss Alabama Katelyn Vinson have spoken out on social media as nicely.

In an Instagram Story put up, Nunez said the contestants felt “humiliated, wondering we entered something with a truthful danger,” in keeping with the New York Post.

“It’s crushing and heartbreaking to have labored so difficult toward a intention best to recognize you in no way stood a hazard,” Vinson wrote on social media after Monday’s result, in line with E! News. Per the hole, some of contestants left the level throughout the pageant without congratulating Gabriel.

O’Keefe, Nunez and Vinson did no longer straight away reply to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

In an Instagram Live on Wednesday, O’Keefe said the contestants “aren’t in any manner attacking R’Bonney as someone.”

“We don’t have any difficult emotions in opposition to her,” she said. “It is not her fault. These are our troubles that we’re citing with the business enterprise as a whole.”

Gabriel told E! News on Thursday that she has now not spoken with O’Keefe, but that she is open to doing so.

“I would like to talk with her,” Gabriel instructed the opening.

Two more “cheating” “scandals”.@DanBarreiroKFAN & @jgkfan

Irish Dancing – https://t.co/uAwxdMAlYc

Miss USA 2022 – https://t.co/ns61kM9D1T

— Matt McConico (@themcconicowire) October 8, 2022

“There’s loads of allegations that are coming up that aren’t true, and those are main to conclusions that simply really are not authentic.”