A former Miss USA contestant says the organization’s ousted president had “something to hide” after the 2022 cheating scandal broke.
Former Miss Montana Heather Lee O’Keefe said President Crystal Stewart’s embarrassing body language in the New York Times/FX documentary “How to Fix a Pageant” speaks “volumes” about the true nature of the allegations.
“I don’t think it looks good for him,” the 26-year-old Floridian exclusively told The Post Wednesday.
“I think that suggests he might have something to hide, or he’s just trying to cover his tracks.”
Stewart appeared stiff throughout her interview with the filmmakers and often looked at her lawyer, Nathan Sheffield, who once had to take over to coach her on how to respond.
Stewart was accused of previously selecting Miss Texas R’Bonney Gabriel — who went on to win Miss Universe — as the 2022 winner.
The allegations would eventually lead to Miss Universe – which owns Miss USA – to kick Stewart from her role.
Former Miss Montana Heather Lee O’Keefe says Miss USA President Crystal Stewart’s embarrassing body language in the New York Times/FX documentary “How to Fix a Pageant” speaks “volumes.” Stewart, pictured here in 2008, has been accused of picking former Miss Texas R’Bonney Gabriel — who went on to win Miss Universe — as the 2022 winner. REUTERS
After the parent organization cut ties with Stewart and her pageant training company Miss Brand, it announced it would conduct a third-party investigation through law firm Holland & Knight.
The only finding that came out of the months-long deep dive in which O’Keefe spent four hours talking to investigators was that the contest was “not rigged.”
However, participants never received a copy of what the firm found outside, nor did they respond to complaints of favoritism against Gabriel.
Several contestants, including Miss DC Faith Porter and O’Keefe, had heard rumors before the pageant that Gabriel would take the coveted crown.
“Of course, being in the industry, you hear rumors that: ‘Oh, Texas is the favorite, R’Bonney is the favorite for Texas, and she’s the favorite for Miss USA.’ Before he won Texas there was a conversation about it,” O’Keefe recalled.
Porter heard the same thing, telling the filmmakers: “My whole family came over and they told me: ‘So-and-so said, you know, it looks like it’s going to Texas.’ I remember saying: ‘Everyone really likes him on the staff, but I don’t know if they’re going to crown him because the director is going to riot.’”
O’Keefe spent four hours talking to investigators and was eventually told that the contest was “not rigged.”
The state director had a meeting with Stewart about Gabriel on September 8, 2022, because participants claimed he was denied special benefits.
“We all did it because we believed it was fair, and I think the reason why we all walked off the stage immediately afterwards and weren’t surprised at all was because we had this in our minds the whole time we saw something special. the treatment he received,” O’Keefe said.
The crowning moment was a huge testament to the queen’s avid fans, who quickly took to social media to point out that the other girls weren’t celebrating Gabriel’s win — as is tradition.
Gabriel denied it, telling E! “The Rundown” news at the time that the competition was “shortened” and there was “no time” for the girls to come down and celebrate.
Gabriel (right) allegedly received special treatment, although he denied it. After he was crowned, the contestants left the stage instead of congratulating him as is customary. Finesse Levine
In addition, O’Keefe called Stewart a “hypocrite” for taking “direct digs” at the participants in the documentary.
Stewart praised the woman for using that voice, but said it was for “the wrong reason.”
O’Keefe said it felt like a “knife straight to the chest” because he was “supposed to be our leader.”
“I think it’s hypocritical for him to say that we’re using our voice for the wrong reasons because that’s why we’re taking on this role as titleholders to stand up for what we believe in,” he said.
A representative for Stewart and Miss Brand declined to comment because of a “break in the interview.” Miss Universe declined to comment.
The Post also reached out to Miss USA for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
