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The model and Miss Universe 2010, Ximena Navarrete, was a fundamental part of a group of women who had the great responsibility of choosing the new Miss Universe 2022 , whose crown and sash were awarded to Miss USA , R’Bonney Gabriel . After this award, a wave of criticism was directed against the Filipino-American contestant, as many believed there was fraud in this selection.
As a result, Ximena Navarrete took the floor and revealed unprecedented details about the Miss Universe pageant and explained the reasons why there couldn't have been any fraud in this competition.
"I can tell you that I was not part of the jury that selected those 16 contestants. There are different panels of judges, and I was a judge for the live show in the final part. I am given the top 16, and from that top, I start voting and I am shown their interviews with the judges in private, and I can see material from that top 16," she stated.
The Mexican also defended the election of R’Bonney Gabriel: "The new winner is beautiful, she is super prepared, just like she won this year, so other countries are dissatisfied because their candidate did not win, and I understand that perfectly."
"I can only tell you that we are a jury voting on a machine or computer, the numbers we input do not move, nor can they be manipulated. There is no way for this to be something illegal or poorly done," she added.
The Mexican Ximena Navarrete also expressed regret that her compatriot Miss Mexico, Irma Miranda, was not even considered in the top 16 most beautiful women in the world. "I was very sad that Miss Mexico did not enter, but we really wanted to see her, she looked very beautiful and well-prepared, and we were left wanting to hear her and see her on stage. It made me very sad, just like many of you, not to see her," she said.
As it is known, the top 5 consisted of: Miss Venezuela - Amanda Dudamel, Miss Puerto Rico - Ashley Cariño, Miss Curacao - Gabriëla Dos Santos, Miss Dominican Republic - Andreina Martínez.