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Donald Trump Accused of Fixing Miss Universe Pageant
So how much of the glitz and glamour of the Miss Universe pageant is real? Not much, says Michael Schwandt, a choreographer of the last four pageants. In a recent interview, he scrutinized the competition and revealed Donald Trump is allegedly fixing the competitions. According to Schwandt, Trump decides who will make it to the final six -- after a private meeting with all the women.
"At all the shows, he pops in the day before the telecast ,and we line up all the girls in alphabetical order... he basically walks by and has an assistant that takes notes. And it's just kind of common knowledge that he picks six of the top 15 single-handedly," Schwandt told Guanabee.com (via Defamer.)
"It's kind of a surreal experience, actually. We all just kind of try to sit there... and everyone's trying to make it go smoothly. It's kind of the last thing anybody wants to do but we have to do it," he added.
"The other nine are judged in a preliminary show the week before and picked by those judges, but he picks six of the top fifteen," Schwandt said.
In the official Miss Universe rules, they fail to note the private judging round and its impact on the race. Apparently, Trump didn't like how others judged the women in previous competitions, so he took matters into his own hands.
"His reason for doing so, as he told me and he's told the girls before, is that he left it all up to preliminary judging in the past and some of the most beautiful women, in his opinion, were not in the top fifteen and he was kind of upset about that. And he decided that he would pick a certain number and let the judges pick a certain number," Schwandt said.
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Miss Universe Photos
Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, of Venezuela, poses at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. See more photos from the Miss Universe 2009 competition >>
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Miss Universe 2009
NEW YORK - AUGUST 31: Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza looks on as Venus Williams of the United States plays against Vera Dushevina of Russia during day one of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2009 in Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dayana Mendoza
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Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, of Venezuela, poses at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. Venezuela won the 2009 Miss Universe crown for the second year straight and the sixth time since the pageant's creation. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
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Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, of Venezuela, smiles during an interview with The Associated Press in Nassau, Bahamas, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. Venezuela won the 2009 Miss Universe crown for the second year straight and the sixth time since the pageant's creation. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
AP
Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, of Venezuela, shows the dress she wore during the contest in Nassau, Bahamas, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. Venezuela won the 2009 Miss Universe crown for the second year straight and the sixth time since the pageant's creation. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
AP
Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, of Venezuela, poses for photographers in Nassau, Bahamas, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. Venezuela won the 2009 Miss Universe crown for the second year straight and the sixth time since the pageant's creation. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
AP
Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, of Venezuela, waves during an interview in Nassau, Bahamas, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. Venezuela won the 2009 Miss Universe crown for the second year straight and the sixth time since the pageant's creation. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
AP
Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, of Venezuela, gestures during an interview with The Associated Press in Nassau, Bahamas, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. Venezuela won the 2009 Miss Universe crown for the second year straight and the sixth time since the pageant's creation. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
AP
Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, of Venezuela, poses for a photo at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. Venezuela won the 2009 Miss Universe crown for the second year straight and the sixth time since the pageant's creation. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
AP
Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, of Venezuela, gestures during an interview with The Associated Press in Nassau, Bahamas, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. Venezuela won the 2009 Miss Universe crown for the second year straight and the sixth time since the pageant's creation. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
AP
Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, of Venezuela, gets make up on her chin before an interview in Nassau, Bahamas, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. Venezuela won the 2009 Miss Universe crown for the second year straight and the sixth time since the pageant's creation. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
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(122)Add a comment
Wednesday 02 September
By drwds
Pageants are outdated and should become obsolete. I will never watch another
Reply
Wednesday 02 September
By Paul
Let me pick the girls.......I probably pick them all to win..........hahaha. If they all made it to the contest, they all deserve to win.
Wednesday 02 September
By Michael Schwandt
This is Michael Schwandt, the choreographer for Miss Universe referenced in your article. To imply that Donald Trump "fixes" the event is absurd. Why would I say that about a person, company and event that I work for? Its seems a few lines have been isolated and/or taken out of context for sensationalism.
There are many factors that go into selecting and judging the contestants on this show, and to be honest, I don't even know what they all are.
My concern is the staged portions of the telecast. Donald does come in to meet all the girls collectively before the show, but as far as I know, that's a gesture b/c it's his event. I have no idea what happens after that or truly what purpose it serves. I am quoted as saying "its common knowledge that he picks 6 of the top 15..." but I was speaking in a hypothetical jest (written words lack tone, inflection and context). I am not a credible source for such information nor do I even know if that's true.
It goes on to give an explanation of why this is done, and says "he told me..." Donald has never spoken specifically to me (other than "Hello") or anyone on my team about a selection process.
There really isn't much substance to the notion that Donald "fixes" the pageant, I'm actually surprised any credible news source is trying to run with this. I know the Miss Universe Organization goes to great lengths to establish a preliminary and final panel of judges as well as different factors on which contestants are judged however, I'm the last person to be quoted as saying anything in regard to the judging or selecting process, I'm the choreographer, I deal with that.
CNN.com made sure to include my comments in their story today, to set the record straight and I hope you will do the same
Michael Schwandt
Wednesday 02 September
By Chanera
that just shows you know nothing about pageants and watching fake crap about them on tv doesn't give you any knowledge about them whatsoever. to the girls that do them and actually experience them [the real deal not tv versions] they're great and they're fun
Thursday 03 September
By LUIS SMITH
MISS EARTH IS BETTER THAN MISS WORLD OR UNIVERSE . THE JUDGES GOT TO CHOOSE THE WINNERS.... MISS WORLD IS ALSO PATTERN FROM MISS UNIVERSE . TRUMP AND THE OWNER OF MISS WORLD ARE FRIENDS AND THEY MAKE DECISION WHO'S GOING TO WIN....BUSENESS AS USUAL. BOTH DIRTY PEOPLE IF TRUE. 15 YRS FROM NOW TRUMP WILL B E IN NURSING HOME W ALSHEIMERS SEE IF HIS MONEY WILL HELP HIM...
Thursday 03 September
By adam_in_Chicago
I'm always surprised to learn that pageants still exist. Every year I think the whole thing stopped a couple of decades ago. What's the point of them? Seems to be the absolutely worst kind of venal reviewing - and makes no sense to a culture that should be helping people bring out their best regardless of physical appearance. Seems to appeal to the kind of body-worship that leads to eating disorders, self-esteem problems and even depression. I haven't watched one since the 1970s, and don't know anybody who does.
Wednesday 02 September
By Joy
I wound not be surprised, Trump is controlling and it is his show.I just wonder does he really thinks he is all that? Look at him, overweight and wearing a rag???? Self respect is worth more than his millions{not billion]OK..
Reply
Wednesday 02 September
By Lord Enki
Donald, Donald, Donald lets talk about that hair piece, it's really hard to take you seriously the hair piece makes you look like a goofy old man with your money you couldn't afford hair trans plant. And the news is you are starting to look like the old man who owns Playboy.
Reply
Wednesday 02 September
By rob
trump doesnt wear a hairpeice thats his natural hair.now check out his butt its huge
Reply
Wednesday 02 September
By Lord Enki
Regardless of weather it's a hairpiece he still looks silly.
Wednesday 02 September
By KATH0715
i think donald trump is racist....
tell me when was the first time that a black woman won miss universe......
never.....................................
Reply
Wednesday 02 September
By TAMI
Well, you are obviously too young to know this..just 10 years ago...The winner of Miss Universe 1999 was Mpule Kwelagobe from Botswana. So, he is not racist! Maybe there just not as pretty as their compition most years. It is up to individual countries to get the "best" for their country to enter the Universe Pageant...he doesn't control those pageants!
Wednesday 02 September
By Betty
I have been waiting for someone to wake up and smell the 'rat' in this whole thing! First of all, people in this country need to realize that 3/4 of the world's pop, are NON-WHITE SKINNED! So when someone says 'Black' it DOES NOT mean necessarily African American. SO GET OVER IT! Just take a look at ALL of the women representing their countries; and 3/4 of them were NON WHITE SKINNED WOMAN - and - VERY BEAUTIFUL. Now you tell me how the finalists were the few fair-skinned beauties remaining only? GIVE ME A BREAK! The "universe" is not represented by Trump's vision of beauty. And just as an after thought - this man is starting his so-called inclusive multi marketing business. What fool would want to be in business with someone that uses these types of tactics? Beware before going into business with Trump. He's always been for 'Trump' first and always.
Tuesday 08 September
By jr
allways a black white thing,its 2009 not 1809.come up with some new excuse for yourself.
Thursday 03 September
By CLINT STONER
WHAT A STUPID COMMENT WHATS WRONG WITH BEING A RACIST HELL I AM A RACIST THERE IS A REASON A BLACK WOMAN HAS NOT WON AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE WHITE GIRLS ALL PUT THEM TO SHAME
Wednesday 02 September
By Jade
There have been black Miss Universe. I remember one in the 80's who represented Trinidad and Tobago and she was a black girl.
Wednesday 02 September
By kenneth
Yes I agree with you. Why does everything have to be racist though? Come to think of it, I have never seen a white women win the Miss Black America Pagent either. So I guess we could say that the promoters of that pagent are racists to white people ! ! Come on! Post something with a little more thought behind it !
Wednesday 02 September
By cal
To imply or state that Donal Trump is a racist based on your notion that black women have never won is both absurd and uninformed. Miss Universe 1977, Janelle Commission from Trinidad and Tobago is black...and so is Miss Universe(s) 1995(USA), 1998 (Trinidad and Tobago again), 1999 (Botswana). Black women have had a history of high placements in Miss Universe dating back to 1968, when Curacao was first runner up, as well as black first runners up from Haiti (1975), Bermuda (1979), USA (1990), Dominican Republic(2009). Fact is that women from Latin America have dominated the pageant with 6 winners coming from Venezuela, 5 from Puerto Rico, 2 from Brazil, 1 each from Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Panama. In the last 20 years, only three European contestants have won the title, Holland (89), Norway (90), Russia (2001). So much for your statement.
Thursday 03 September
By coolbreeze
clint, i bet you're a southerner who's still fighting the civil war. it'e over, you lost remember.
Wednesday 02 September
By Mike
If you haven't caught on to Trump's shtick yet, you must be republican. This guy is the biggest phony I've ever seen.
Reply