Second Miss USA Contestant says she overheard list of Top 5 finalists before live announcement

“I saw Florida backstage and she was very, very flustered and upset. I thought it might be because she didn’t make the top 15 cut, but at that point she was able to reveal to me at least four of the five names who went on to be the top girls,” the contestant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told FOXNews.com exclusively. “She couldn’t remember the fifth because she was so upset. Several of the girls then started hearing through the grapevine about a list; a lot of people were upset.”

“Apparently the morning of June 3rd [Brez] saw a folder lying open to a page that said 'FINAL SHOW Telecast, June 3, 2012' and she saw the places for Top 5 already filled in,” Monnin wrote on her Facebook page. “After the Top 16 were called and we were standing backstage she hesitantly said to me and another contestant that she knew who the Top 5 were. I said 'who do you think they will be?' She said that she didn't 'think' she 'knew' because she saw the list that morning. She relayed whose names were on the list. Then we agreed to wait and see if that was indeed the Top 5 called that night. After it was indeed the Top 5 I knew the show must be rigged.”

Nothing wrong with a professional wrestling type of “competition” as long as everyone know the game

In Texas it is a crime to rig a publicly exhibited contest, which is why wrestling "matches" are promoted as "exhibitions" or "shows" not contests. Looking at the statute, I think it would extend to a beauty pagent.

§ 32.44 TEXAS PENAL CODE. RIGGING PUBLICLY EXHIBITED CONTEST.

(a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to affect the outcome (including the score) of a publicly exhibited contest:
(1) he offers, confers, or agrees to confer any benefit on, or threatens harm to:
(A) a participant in the contest to induce him not to use his best efforts; or
(B) an official or other person associated with the contest; or
(2) he tampers with a person, animal, or thing in a manner contrary to the rules of the contest.

(b) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any benefit the conferring of which is an offense under Subsection (a).

Good point. It's not a "contest" if it's rigged.

I've never taken an interest in the beauty pageant game, and I've never known any young ladies who were on that track. My opinion is based on nothing but casual impression. That said, I have the impression that most of the contestants take it very seriously indeed, and that for many of them, it's an all consuming passion. FWIW, when you total up costumes, styling, talent training, travel, etc., a fair amount of money and a substantial investment of time are involved. Seriously misplaced priorities, of course, but if the pageant is rigged, the contestants are being defrauded.

What a jerky thing to say. I guess you don’t have any idea how many years it takes to get to the point where you are on the Miss USA Stage. These women start young, local pagaents, travelling, Having strangers judge them, every flaw. The disciple and the education, leaning grace and poise..Something sorely lacking in this world. These women are incredibly hard workers and highly competitive and for you to doubt that says more about you and your thoughts about women than anything else. Shame on you.

Are you one of those Dance Moms?

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