Miss USA 2022 R’Bonnie Gabriel responds to claims her win was ‘rigged’

Denying claims that the sponsor in question flew her to the resort of Cancun as an advantage over other Miss USA contestants, R’Bonnie said she paid for her own flight and filmed a promotional video there as Miss Texas USA. R’Bonnie also clarified that the viral photo of the president of Miss USA Crystal Stewart was doing her hair — which some people saw as evidence of a conspiracy — was shot after she won the contest.

“Unfortunately, it looks like it happened maybe before I won,” she said, “but it was my official Miss USA photo shoot after I won.”

And while skeptics have questioned her crowning achievement, R’Bonnie keeps her head held high. “I am very, very happy and grateful for my victory,” she said. “As Miss USA, I’m just looking forward to standing up for what I love.”

E! The news reached the participants of the Miss USA pageant, but they did not receive a comment.

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