While I absolutely do not condone Mr. Trump's statements, after careful deliberation I have decided to continue my role as co-host of the upcoming Miss USA Pageant. For the past several years, I have been co-hosting both Miss USA and Miss Universe aligned to support President Paula Shugart. I can't abandon these women when they need our support now more than ever. The mission of the Miss Universe organization has always been to unite women from all over the world and celebrate different cultures. They empower women to become role models in their communities in order to build self-esteem and advance philanthropic initiatives. It is truly unfortunate that recent events have overshadowed the amazing work these women have been doing, but the goals of their organization have not changed.
Through the years I've experienced a wide variety of inspiring stories. I've met women who used the pageant to help fund their education. I got to know winners like Miss Universe Leila Lopes who used the platform to bring so much positive attention to emerging countries like Angola. There are countless stories of real women working hard to impact social change. My entire career has been driven by my inspiration to celebrate women and their potential. I hope everyone can transcend this controversy so we don’t lose sight of that. As long as there is one woman standing there on that stage, I intend to be standing there beside her.
