Beauty pageants aren't always pretty. Competitive events from Miss USA to Miss Universe have all had their fair share of scandals and controversies over the years. In 1984, Miss America Vanessa Williams famously gave up her crown after nude photos were published in Penthouse. Years later, in 2006, Miss USA Tara Conner kept her sash when then-Miss Universe owner and now President of the United States Donald Trump offered her a second chance after she admitted to abusing drugs and alcohol. The latest controversy came in November 2025, when an argument broke out between Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch and Thai businessman Nawat Itsaragrisil during a sash ceremony. Keep scrolling to see the biggest beauty pageant scandals through the years: Tragic Pageant Queen Deaths Through the Years: Tyra Spaulding, More Vanessa Williams Before she became an accomplished singer and actress, Vanessa Williams had her Miss America title taken away when racy photos of herself were leaked and published in Penthouse magazine. Williams, who was the first African-American Miss America, was also the first to resign. More than thirty years later, she returned as the head judge of the pageant and CEO Sam Haskell issued an official apology to Williams. "I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less than the Miss America that you are and Miss America you always will be," he said. Karlie Hay Hours after Karlie Hay was crowned Miss Teen USA 2016, screenshots of racist tweets she posted a few years back - including some using the N-word - resurfaced online. She quickly owned up to using the offensive language and apologized in an Instagram post. While the Miss Universe Organization called her word choice "unacceptable," they said she will not have to give up her crown. Destiny Velez Miss Puerto Rico 2015 Destiny Vélez was suspended by the Miss America Organization after she tweeted a series of anti-Muslim messages. Fahrenheit 9/11 filmmaker Michael Moore shared a photo of himself holding a sign outside of Trump Tower that said, "We are all Muslim," in response to Trump's comments about banning Muslims from entering the U.S. Vélez launched into a tirade, saying that Muslims have "terrorizing agendas." Doron Matalon and Saly Greige Selfie scandal! Miss Israel Doron Matalon and Miss Lebanon Saly Greige caused an uproar for taking a smiling selfie together at Miss Universe 2014. While it seemed innocent, the two countries had been at war for years. Greige claimed on Facebook that Matalon photobombed her while she was having her pic taken with other ladies and posted it on social media. Matron countered on Instagram that it was "too bad [she] cannot put the hostility out of the game, only for three weeks of an experience of a lifetime." Nia Sanchez Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez was accused of faking that she lived in Nevada when she forgot the capital of her supposed home state. During a radio interview, she blanked out on the answer. "Oh oh agh, umm, oh my gosh," she said, before the host rescued her and said, "Carson City." She had competed in Miss California three times and had never won, sparking rumors that she set up a paper trail to make it appear she met the minimum residency requirements for the Nevada competition. Steve Harvey Ethan Miller/Getty Images The 2015 Miss Universe host made a mega gaffe - and broke the internet - when he announced the wrong winner of the pageant. He mistakenly read that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez was the victor, when really Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, had won the coveted crown. He later explained that the text on the card for the first runner-up was bigger and bolder than the winner's name. "Did I make a mistake? Yes I did, wholeheartedly," he said on his talk show. "You make a mistake and you own up to it. And I tried to fix it, I tried to fix it right there." Elizabeth Fechtel Florida and those recounts! During the Miss Florida 2014 pageant, Elizabeth Fechtel was originally crowned the winner before the pageant organizers realized there had been an error in counting the votes, and Victoria Cowen was the true champ. Several days later, officials showed up at Fechtel's home to inform her of the mistake. Apparently, a judge had switched his or her choice at the last minute and drawn arrows on the ballot to reverse the names, but it had been overlooked initially. Amanda Longacre Amanda Longacre was originally given the title of Miss Delaware 2014 but was later deemed too old to complete in Miss America; Contestants must be 17 to 24 years old. Longacre was still 24 at the September competition, but she turned 25 in October. According to pageant officials, there's a clause stating that a Miss America hopeful cannot turn 25 before the end of the year. While she didn't keep the crown, she was able to keep the scholarship money she was awarded. Rima Fakih The controversy started when seductive photos of Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih on a stripper pole - allegedly at a Detroit radio sh