Miss Universe

A transgender woman was crowned Miss Universe Netherlands for the first time ... making history in the Dutch country.

22-year-old Rikkie Valerie Kolle won the pageant Saturday -- which effectively makes her Miss Netherlands ... and which will send her on to compete in the upcoming Miss Universe competition later this year ... where women from all over the world will fight for the crown.

The last Miss Netherlands, Ona Moody, and reigning Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel (from USA) were on hand to give Kolle the big prize ... everyone seemed stoked, RVK included.

Now, she's on to the big show ... which is going to be held in El Salvador in December. While she might be the first trans woman in the Netherlands to compete ... she won't be the first trans woman to vie for the Miss Universe title ... Spain's Angela Ponce did so in 2018.

More trans women have been competing in national Miss Universe pageants in recent years -- in fact, the new owner of the Miss Universe org -- Anne Jakrajutatip -- is transgender herself.

The woman who runs the Miss Universe Organization is denying allegations the beauty pageant was rigged because it was an independent party that handled the results.

Amy Emmerich, CEO of Miss Universe Organization, tells TMZ ... "One of the top four accounting firms in the United States handled the results and verified the process."

As we reported ... Anne Jakrajutatip, the new owner of Miss Universe, has been accused of rigging the pageant for Miss USA, who won the crown over runner-up Miss Venezuela.

One issue many folks have, Jakrajutatip's JKN Global Group owns both the Miss Universe and Miss USA competitions ... which some say is suspect.

But, Emmerich tells us ... "The allegations re: rigging of Miss Universe are false. People saying that it's "suspect" that JKN Global Group owns both Miss Universe and Miss USA aren't familiar with the history of the organizations."

There is precedent for Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA all being under the same ownership ... back in 2015, IMG bought the 3 pageants and brought them under the same roof.

Emmerich also tells us an independent third-party law firm was hired to look into allegations surrounding the Miss USA pageant from back in October, which was also accused of being rigged ... and determined the allegations were unfounded.

R'Bonney Gabriel won the Miss Universe pageant Saturday, becoming the first Filipino American to take the crown. Emmerich says R'bonney was a "strong and dedicated contestant" who is the "rightful Miss Universe."

No Steve Harvey, but still a lot of controversy -- the new owner of Miss Universe has been accused of rigging the pageant for Miss USA ... despite some other clear favorites.

Anne Jakrajutatip -- who's the chief of JKN Global Group, which owns both Miss Universe and Miss USA -- is being called out by dissatisfied fans online, who feel like the fact that she literally controls both competitions is a little suspect ... not to mention where this was held.

For starters, Miss Universe was hosted in New Orleans -- airing on Roku -- and some claim the fix was in from the get-go to make sure R'Bonney Gabriel was crowned by the show's ending ... which did, in fact, happen. The runner-up was Miss Venezuela, Amanda Dudamel.

Dudamel impressed throughout the broadcast, especially with her heartfelt answers on certain questions. Her outfits were also less ridiculed than the ones Gabriel wore, particularly in the costume category ... when she walked onstage with a WILD moon landing getup.

All this aside, many are pointing to what seems to be an obvious conflict of interest from Jakrajutatip and co. Her corporation bought Miss Universe this past fall for a reported $20 million, and with it came the rights to Miss USA ... which falls under the same umbrella.

Even before this pageant, there were already gripes about how Gabriel came to be Miss USA in the first place ... dating back to October, when JKN Global came onboard as the new shot-callers. Some have claimed there was favoritism afoot in that competition as well ... and there've even been suspensions in the top ranks as a result of investigations into it.

Of course, another curve ball here is the fact Jakrajutatip is transgender -- something that caught the attention of many when she delivered a powerful speech at one point in the broadcast ... where she said Miss Universe was now owned by women, for women.

NFL superstar Christian McCaffrey and Olivia Culpo are officially at war -- don't worry, their relationship is doing just fine -- but they're now competing against each other for the best abs on the planet!!!

The Carolina Panthers RB and former Miss Universe hit the waters for a romantic meal on Monday ... eating up all the Chick-fil-A sandwiches they could fit in their shredded bodies.

OC posted a snap from the getaway on Instagram ... with the couple sharing a kiss in between bites.

"You had me at fried chicken sandwich," Culpo posted.

OC's fellow S.I. Swimsuit model friend Brooks Nader took notice of the biggest takeaway from the picture ... adding the simple caption, "Abs!"

Of course, OC and CMC have been pretty much inseparable ever since they started dating in 2019 ... and we're sure quarantining together has been a hell of a time.

Remember, if you're gonna join Olivia and Christian in eating a bunch of fried chicken, you're not gonna look like them unless you work out nonstop like they do.

Yeah ... we may settle for a salad.

It's only right that the women who made pageant history would get together for a whole lot of "black girl magic" under the same roof.

We're told not long after Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa was crowned in Atlanta, Miss USA's Cheslie Kryst and Miss America's Nia Franklin reached out to her to tell her they wanted to officially welcome her once she's flown to NYC for her press tour.

The meet-up makes a lot of sense considering Cheslie and Zozibini recently became new roommates.

And, that's exactly what went down Wednesday night when everyone met up at Cheslie and Tunzi's new pad. The American beauties also had a gift for Tunzi -- a painting featuring the trio to commemorate their historic wins.

As you know by now ... for the first time in history, black women swept the major pageants, which included Miss Teen USA's Kaliegh Garris. Cheslie didn't take long to appreciate the historic significance ... saying she was proud to be part of this group.

So, what'd the girls talk about on girls' night? They talked about progression, representation and how they hope a clean sweep by women of color sparks inspiration to women around the world. Their deep convo should come as no surprise -- Miss Universe is an activist who fights against gender-based violence; Miss USA is an attorney who boasts a JD/MBA from Wake Forest; and Miss America advocates for female empowerment and music creativity.

Steve Harvey and the Miss Universe crew might be trying to dodge blame for the Best Costume blunder, but Miss Malaysia's team is here to put it right back in their corner.

Elaine Daly -- the National Director of the Miss Malaysia org -- tells TMZ that their pageant title holder, Shweta Sekhon, and the rest of her team at MU Sunday night legitimately thought she'd won Best National Costume ... because we're told that's what they were led to believe by show runners, who allegedly never informed them of anything different..

Daly says Shweta was asked to go backstage and change into her National Costume to be showcased as "Best National Costume," which Steve was about to announce.

That's exactly what she did, and we're told Shweta even conducted interviews on the matter -- all under the assumption she was the actual winner. So when SH said Miss Phillipines had actually won, Daly says it's completely understandable why Shweta corrected him.

Fast-forward to Monday ... when we were told by a Miss Universe source that Steve hadn't actually screwed up -- Miss Philippines was the winner, and Shweta simply jumped the gun by assuming just because she was standing out there, she was the victor.

Well, Miss Malaysia's camp is calling BS on that. Daly says she tried clarifying the mix-up and got told by someone at Miss Universe that Shweta was just the production staff's choice for Best Costume -- Miss Phillippines won actual online voting -- but the Miss Universe people simply wanted to showcase her at the moment, 'cause they liked her outfit.

Frankly, that makes no sense. Obviously, one would naturally put two and two together and assume the girl on stage was the one Steve was talking about ... which is what Daly explained to us as well, as that's how it came off to them (and the rest of the world).

Adding insult to injury ... we're told the Miss Malaysia team is pretty devastated by the faux pas, as they say they've never won a thing at Miss Universe. Get it together, y'all.

Zedd and Olivia Culpo are THIS close to setting off the "New Couple Alert" ... 'cause they sure looked like a couple of crazy kids very much into each other after getting all cozy at Coachella!!!

We're told the famous Russian-German DJ and the former Miss Universe were cuddling in the artist area during Ariana Grande's set at Coachella. Check out the vid ... it appears Zedd had his arms around Olivia as Grande performed "God is a woman."

Witnesses tell us they were together for the whole set. His arms were around her as they swayed together. She would lean her head back on his chest ... the universal code for "I'm into you."

And, get this ... Zedd had a performance scheduled a few hours before Ariana's. When he went onstage ... guess who was backstage? Yup ... Olivia and her hot friends. But, here's what else is interesting ... this fling seems to come just days after Olivia was spotted with another star ... NHL's Aaron Varos.

Olivia and the New York Rangers star were on a double date just last week at Soho Hollywood. They were hanging with her best friend Cara Santana and Jesse Metcalfe. So, ya gotta wonder ... was Olivia's date with Varos a one-off and is Zedd more her jam???

Whatever the case ... one thing that seems certain -- Danny Amendola's in her rear-view mirror.

Olivia Culpo is back in her natural habitat on Miami Beach, but this time she's hittin' the sand without her on-again-off-again beau, Danny Amendola -- which you couldn't care less about right now.

The former Miss Universe made Thursday a sun day with some gal pals -- including model Devon Windsor -- but she stole the show with her red two-piece bikini. Olivia definitely seemed aware of the cameras too, since she got in tons of different positions ... as if she were doing an impromptu photo shoot.

It's interesting that Olivia's back in Miami without Danny, with whom she's been hot and cold since this past fall. He's no longer a Dolphin -- dude got shipped out to the Detroit Lions earlier this month. Bummer for him ... that's a lot less beach time with Olivia.

Tim Tebow is one step closer to swiping that V-card ... he just got engaged to his insanely attractive beauty queen girlfriend, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters!!!

"Thank you for saying YES and making me the happiest man in the world," Tebow posted.

"You’re the love of my life, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

Demi-Leigh -- the 2017 Miss Universe winner -- also commented, saying, "Any dreams I’ve ever had, you’ve exceeded them all! I love you and I can’t wait to spend forever with you!"

Demi-Leigh is 23 years old. She's from South Africa. The two have been dating for a while and she recently went home to Florida with him to celebrate the holidays ... a big sign a ring was on the way.

Congrats!!!

Reigning Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers appears to be making good on her promise to smooth things over with a couple competitors she openly mocked for not speaking her tongue.

Miss Australia Francesca Hung just posted an Instagram picture with a bunch of Miss Universe contestants ... and as you can see, Sarah is getting a big smooch from Vietnam's H'Hen Nie.

Sarah's got Miss Cambodia Rern Sinat on her other side, meaning she's flanked by the two women she ridiculed for not speaking English.

Controversy started brewing even before the Miss Universe pageant officially began ... when Sarah, Miss Colombia Valeria Morales and Francesca went on social media and started gossiping about other contestants.

Sarah directed xenophobic insults at the contestants from Vietnam and Cambodia ... all because they weren't speaking English.

Facing mounting backlash, Sarah apologized for the nasty comments and promised to apologize in person to her targets. It appears she's done so, and hopefully it's all water under the bridge.

9:45 AM -- Sarah has issued an apology on her Instagram ... she says, "In a moment where I intended to admire the courage of a few of my sisters, I said something that I now realize can be perceived as not respectful, and I apologize."

Sarah also says she would be "grateful" for an opportunity to discuss the matter with Miss Cambodia and Miss Vietnam.

8:02 AM -- We just spoke to Summers' mom, Desiree, and she tells TMZ ... her daughter's comments were taken out of context. She says, "She in no way meant any harm. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body." As for imitating Miss Vietnam, Desiree says, "[Summers] was just recreating how Miss Vietnam acts when she doesn’t understand what someone is saying. She wasn’t trying to mock her."

Reigning Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers is going full "Mean Girls" at the Miss Universe competition by openly mocking Miss Vietnam for not speaking English.

The pageant competition goes down in Thailand in a few days -- but Sarah, Miss Colombia Valeria Morales and Miss Australia Francesca Hung decided to go on social media to gossip about other contestants. Watch ... Sarah took a nasty, xenophobic cheap shot at Vietnam's H'Hen Nie.

She wasn't done there ... in another clip, she takes aim at Miss Cambodia, Rern Sinat, for not speaking English. Granted, Sarah sounded a little more sympathetic, saying ... "Can you imagine? Francesca said that would be so isolating, and I said, yes and just confusing all the time."

Still, she clearly thinks everyone should be speaking her tongue.

The backlash was immediate -- and in English -- with one person commenting, "The future Miss Universe should not be an ambassador of bullying." Another said it's a "shameful display of meanness poorly masked as empathy."

And, ya gotta love this irony from Sarah's IG profile -- #ifyoudonthaveanythingnicetosaydontsayanythingatall

Well, she said ONE thing right.

Originally Published 7:25 AM PT

Olivia Culpo's holiday shopping outfit is giving everyone lots of ideas ... for gifts. And, other things.

The former Miss Universe looked catwalk-ready Friday, as she floated out of a Epione dermatology in Bev Hills, rocking a ridiculously hot pair of red thigh high boots.

'Tis the season for red ... and leather, apparently. Mind you, this is just her out-and-about running errands ensemble.

Olivia's holiday shopping list will NOT include a stop at a Rolex store. She's got that covered.

Go ahead and hand Olivia Culpo another Miss Universe title -- there's no need for the whole pageant when she's posing like this ... in latex!

The former Miss Universe absolutely slays in the October issue of Modeliste Magazine. Culpo threw on several outfits and, fair warning ... you'll be hard-pressed to pick a favorite 'cause they're all fire. For starters, the 26-year-old graced the cover with a high-leg, low-cut silver bodysuit. It gets better.

Olivia also threw on some cutout latex pants, paired with a black latex bodysuit. She completed the look with a pink latex hat. Check out the pics ... the 5-foot-7 smokeshow then ditched the pants and opted for a biker jacket with stilettos and shades. Fuego.

Chelsi Smith -- who took the crown of Miss USA in 1995 -- and went on to win Miss Universe has died.

Shanna Moakler -- who was runner up to Smith in the 1995 Miss USA Pageant -- shared a tribute to the beauty queen after learning of her death, "I am heartbroken. Godspeed beautiful. You were my friend and a light. I love and will miss you more then you will ever know. The epitome of a Queen."

Reports say Smith fought a battle with liver cancer before passing away.

Smith competed in her first pageant -- Miss Texas in 1994 -- and became the first biracial woman to win the pageant.

In 1995, Smith traveled to Namibia to compete in the Miss Universe Pageant where she won the crown, becoming the first woman from the United States to do so in 15 years.

Smith was 45.

Miss Honduras 2016 just brought her bosses to their knees ... pageant officials in Honduras have re-crowned her after they got threatened with an international lawsuit.

Sirey Moran was stripped of her crown by Miss Universe Honduras back in July after pageant honchos became enraged she was choosing to spend her time at charity events rather than gigs that would make money for the org.

What to do? Hire famed lawyer Joe Tacopina, who got the pageant to see it Sirey's way. Her crown was just restored, making her eligible to compete in Miss Universe. Tacopina's office tells us, "The Miss Universe Honduras Org and Sirey have resolved all previous conflicts concerning her title."

He continues, "Sirey looks forward to representing Miss Honduras at the Miss Universe competition early next year. We thank Paula Shugart and Miss Universe for helping to resolve the issue."

Everyone was mum on why the pageant folded, but we're told Tacopina made it clear in August ... some of the crown holders were in Sirey's corner, and Miss Universe Honduras officials know, there's nothing messier than a group of angry contestants with scepters.

Oh, Steve Harvey's hosting again ... which is awesome.