Spanish
Alicia Machado reignited the controversy after making strong statements during a live broadcast on TikTok. The 1996 Miss Universe came out in defense of Fátima Bosch, the newly crowned Miss Universe 2025, but ended up generating controversy for the way she referred to two of the most recognized Venezuelan queens: Dayana Mendoza and Stefanía Fernández.
The former queen assured that her words were intended to support Bosch in the face of the accusations she has received on social media. However, in the middle of her speech, she made a comment that many considered offensive, calling the Miss Universe 2008 and 2009 as "ladies of the night" and implying that they obtained benefits in exchange for favors.
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Machado, who has been involved in numerous controversies throughout her career, insisted that she knows well the pressure of being under public scrutiny. In addition, she highlighted Fátima's preparation with Osmel Sousa and stated that the young woman has no reason to give up her crown despite the criticisms and rumors circulating on the internet. The tone of the broadcast became more tense when, without mentioning names directly, it pointed towards the two former Venezuelan queens who have adopted Christianity as a central part of their lives. His statements alluded to the fact that both took that path after personal experiences related to their time in the pageant and with the businessman Donald Trump and current President of the United States. On the other hand, Machado also criticized Telemundo, arguing that the network's hosts have insisted on provocative questions towards Bosch. According to her, this was the reason why Miss Universe 2025 decided to cancel interviews and withdraw from commitments already agreed with the channel. Social media reactions were quick to appear. Many followers of beauty pageants described Machado's comments as disrespectful and out of place. Although Dayana Mendoza and Stefanía Fernández have not responded publicly, dozens of users and pages specializing in the miss world have condemned the ex-queen's statements for considering them unfounded and loaded with resentment.
