The Miss Universe beauty pageant has concluded for another year, and it was Miss USA snatching the crown and named the winner of the Miss Universe 2022 competition.
However, the win doesn't come without some controversy, as the newly crowned Miss Universe has had to fight off repeated claims that the competition had been rigged.
For those who don't know, the annual international competition is one of the most watched beauty pageants in the world, airing in almost 200 countries and having 500 million viewers tuning in each year, per Reuters.
This year, Miss USA - aka R'Bonney Gabriel - was crowned the winner in an elaborate ceremony in New Orleans, Louisiana, beating 83 other women for the coveted title.
Taking to Instagram just before the final, Gabriel wrote: "There has been so much preparation and work that has gone into getting to this point.
"I have worked non stop for the last 3 years to have an opportunity like this. I first started to pursue this goal when I had a strong intuition telling me I needed to go for it. I'm so glad I listened, because this road has lead me to a place where I feel fully aligned with myself and purpose to help impact others."
"I hope my journey has changed the way you perceive your goals. We can optimize our life by starting with belief. Because a single positive belief can become a vehicle for change that moves you forward to wherever you want to be," she added.
The New York Post detailed that the 28-year-old had become the first Filipino American to take home the Miss USA crown earlier in the year. However, this had been met with criticism after it was suggested that the competition had been rigged in Gabriel's favor.
Insider reported late last year that the Texan beauty had been favored to win before she'd even been selected. As Gabriel collected the crown for her Miss USA win, the other USA contestants didn't rush up to congratulate her - instead, many walked off the stage in Reno, Nevada.
Several of the other women had told the outlet that it had been made rather obvious that Gabriel was set to win the title of Miss USA - with Miss Missouri stating that: "A lot of the girls felt like it was the organization's plan from the beginning for R'Bonney to win, no matter who else was competing."
She added that walking off the stage was: "To send a statement that we all had an idea of what was really going on behind the scenes. We felt disrespected and paraded around for a show."
The other contestants also claimed that the Miss USA sponsorships were unfairly weighted in Gabriel's favor, given that several of them are also state sponsors for Miss Texas - with many of them having their headquarters in Houston, where Gabriel had been living prior to entering the competition.
Gabriel also personally shot down this claims, telling E! News in October: "I would never enter any pageant or any competition that I know I would win [...] I have a lot of integrity."
Following the Miss USA competition, the Miss Universe Organization has launched a full investigation into the matter, stating in an email obtained by Insider: "Miss Universe Organization will be taking over the Miss USA program while a comprehensive, third-party investigation is conducted.
"The investigation will be led by the law firm Holland & Knight and the findings will be used as the basis for the appropriate action."
Congratulations to the new Miss Universe! It certainly has been a journey to the crown!
