Miss USA descended into chaos after contestants claimed it was rigged. Here's a timeline of all the drama.

Anneta KonstantinidesJan 12, 2024, 22:34 IST

The Miss USA organization descended into controversy after contestants claimed the pageant had been rigged in favor of R'Bonney Gabriel.Jason Kempin/Getty Images

The Miss USA and Miss Universe organizations have battled a year full of controversy.
It all began when contestants claimed Miss USA 2022 was rigged in favor of R'Bonney Gabriel.

When R'Bonney Gabriel won Miss USA 2022 and the contestants didn't rush over to hug and congratulate her onstage, many pageant fans wondered if something was amiss.

A day later, the rigging allegations came flooding in — and kicked off a chaotic year for the Miss USA and Miss Universe organizations.

A president was suspended, a sexual harassment scandal was uncovered, and both organizations' top leaders changed amid all the drama. But on September 29, Miss USA will try to move on with its next winner.

Here's everything that happened during the pageant's very controversial year.

R'Bonney Gabriel won Miss USA on October 3, 2022.

R'Bonney Gabriel after she won Miss USA.Miss USA/Instagram

On October 4, Miss USA 2022 contestants went public with their claims that the pageant had been rigged.

Instagram posts from Miss USA 2022 contestants.Katelyn Vinson/instagram/Heather Nunez/Instagram

Many of the contestants began posting their allegations after seeing an Instagram video Gabriel made for a Miss USA national sponsor.

Gabriel during the 2022 Miss USA pageant in Reno, Nevada.Finesse Levine

In an interview on October 6, Gabriel defended herself against the rigging allegations.

Gabriel said she would have never entered a rigged pageant.Grant Foto

On October 8, the Miss Universe Organization launched a third-party investigation and suspended Miss USA president Crystle Stewart.

Stewart after she was announced Miss USA 2008.Eric Jamison/AP Images

In mid-October, it was revealed that Stewart's husband had been accused of sexual harassment by former Miss USA contestants.

Stewart and Sebrechts at the 2019 Miss Universe Pageant on December 8, 2019, in Atlanta.Paras Griffin/Getty Images

On October 26, it was announced that the Miss Universe Organization had been sold to businesswoman Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip.

Anne Jakrajutatip during the Miss Universe Extravaganza in November 2022.LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images

Amid all the controversy and change, Gabriel was trying to prepare for Miss Universe.

Gabriel at the 2022 Miss Universe pageant.Josh Brasted/Getty Images

On January 14, Gabriel won Miss Universe.

Gabriel told Insider that winning Miss Universe was the "sweetest victory."TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

On January 27, Morgan Romano assumed the title of Miss USA 2022.

Miss North Carolina Morgan Romano after being crowned the new Miss USA 2022.Morgan Romano/Instagram

On August 1, the Miss Universe Organization announced it had found the rigging allegations were "false" but that Stewart would no longer be president of Miss USA.

Stewart and Miss USA parted ways in August.Mike Coppola/WireImage

Hours later, Laylah Rose was announced as the next Miss USA president.

New Miss USA president Laylah Rose.Courtesy of Miss USA

The new Miss USA will be crowned on September 29 in Reno, Nevada.

Miss USA will take place this year in Reno, Nevada.Felipe Espinal/Miss USA

Here's who won the Miss USA pageant the year you were born

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