Donald Trump: Sheena Monnin Gave Up Crown Over Transgender Contestants
Former Miss Pennsylvania, Sheena Monnin, accused Donald Trump's famed beauty contest, Miss USA 2012, with being rigged, but the real estate mogul stated she is just being a sore loser.
During an interview Wednesday on "Good Morning America" Trump explained that it was pretty obvious why Monnin did not make the cut to join the top 15.
"If you look at her … you'd understand why she's not in the top 15," Trump told ABC.
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Trump also said that her comments warranted legal action because, as he stated, he has to ensure the integrity of the contest.
"Yeah, we're gonna sue her," Trump said. He declared that Monnin, 27, made false accusations related to pre-determining the outcome, and that her actions were detrimental to everyone involved in the competition including judges, contestants and sponsors. Trump further explained that he suspected Monnin was experiencing what he described as "loser's remorse."
This was the first such incident to stir controversy over the outcome of the pageant, Trump said. Contest officials also uncovered and released an email that was allegedly sent by Monnin. They maintain that the email proves that she quit the contest due to the incorporation of transgender individuals for the first time this year, not because the event was rigged.
"I refuse to be part of a pageant system that has so far and so completely removed itself from its foundational principles as to allow and support natural born males to compete in it," the email reportedly stated.
"This goes against ever moral fiber of my being. I believe in integrity, high moral character, and fair play, none of which are part of this system any longer. I hereby return the title of Miss Pennsylvania USA 2012," Monnin added.
This year's Miss USA winner was 20-year-old Rhode Island native Olivia Culpo who, unlike Monnin, did not see a problem with transgender people competition in the beauty competition.
When asked about the inclusion of transgender contestants Culpo said, that "today where there are so many surgeries and so many people out there who have a need to change for a happier life, I do accept that because I believe it's a free country."
