Former Miss Pennsylvania Sheena Moonin Shocked by $5 million ruling after claiming Donald Trump's Miss USA pageant was fixed.
Sheena Moonin Miss Pennsylvania made headlines after resigning from Miss USA pageant saying Miss Florida has been listed as the five finalist before the show began. She claimed the Miss USA pageant was 'fixed' and 'trashy.' The winner of the Miss USA contest Oliva Culpo was later crowned Miss Universe.
The beauty queen took to her Facebook page after resigning posting "I have decided to resign my position as Miss Pennsylvania USA 2012. Effective immediately I have voluntarily, completely, and utterly removed myself from the Miss Universe Organization." She added "an organization I consider to be fraudulent, lacking in morals, inconsistent, and in many ways trashy." claiming the Miss USA pageant owned by Donald Trump is fixed.
the 27 year-old turned in the title of Miss Pennsylvania USA 2012.
Arbitrator Theodore Katz says Monnin's allegations that finalists had been selected in advance were false, harmful and malicious and cost the pageant, owned by billionaire Donald Trump, a $5 million fee from a potential 2013 sponsor. Donald Trump, co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, sued former Miss Pennsylvania for defamation. A U.S. District Court ruled in favor of the Miss Universe Organization, awarding it $5 million in damages and stated Monnin's statements 'showed a reckless disregard'.
Monnin took to her twitter in response to the ruling posting "When I stated my opinion that the Miss USA pageant was rigged, I was not aware of the clause in the Miss USA contract which says that the Miss Universe Organization, Donald Trump, and others have the legal right to choose the top five winner, This is irrespective of any publicized selection process." She later told Pittsburgh Tribune-review that the "most logical course" would be to contest the ruling, but she is considering her options.