Report: Second Miss USA Contestant Backs Miss PA Sheena Monnin’s Rigging Claims

In the week since she first e ex-Miss Pennsylvania USA Sheena Monnin, of Cranberry, is continuing to grab headlines.

Fox News reported Wednesday that a second Miss USA contestant has stepped forward to collaborate Monnin’s story that she heard Miss Florida, Karina Brez, reveal the list of finalists backstage before the pageant’s Top 15 were announced June 3.

The contestant, who spoke to Fox on the condition of anonymity, said Brez appeared upset and flustered as she revealed the names.

“I thought it might be because she didn’t make the top 15 cut, but at that point she was able to reveal to me at least four of the five names who went on to be the top girls,” the woman told Fox. “She couldn’t remember the fifth because she was so upset. Several of the girls then started hearing through the grapevine about a list; a lot of people were upset.”

Monnin that Brez saw a list of the top five women in the pageant before judging began on the show.

“Apparently the morning of June 3rd she saw a folder lying open to a page that said 'FINAL SHOW Telecast, June 3, 2012' and she saw the places for Top 5 already filled in,” Monnin said. “Thinking she was just seeing a rehearsal fake top 5 from a previous day she walked away, then realized that it had without a doubt been labeled as the Final Show Telecast, June 3rd."

Monnin also called the Miss USA organization fraudulent, lacking in morals and trashy.

Branding the Cranberry resident a “sore loser” who didn't deserve to be in the top 15 contestants, Miss Universe co-founder Donald Trump immediately fired back and told NBC’s Today show he would file a lawsuit against Monnin.

Brez also strongly denied Monnin’s claims and she said mentioned the list as  “a throwaway comment” and “never meant as fact.”

Referring to her years of psychological training, the 27-year-old beauty queen said in an appearance last Friday on the Today show that she didn’t take Brez’s words as a joke.

“I feel prepared to continue to pursue the truth,” she told interviewer Ann Curry. “I know what I heard and I know what I in turn witnessed come true.”

The Miss Universe organization, which runs the Miss USA pageant, has said the real reason Monnin resigned is because she disagreed with a new policy allowing transgendered contestants into the competition.

On Tuesday, TMZ also posted a text message given to it by the Miss USA organization where Monnin appears to criticize Miss Colorado Marybel Gonzalez and Miss South Carolina Erika Powell. Both women made the Top 16 women in last Sunday’s televised contest.

"Colorado? South Carolina? I'm done. This is ridiculous. It's obviously rigged so the girl they want can shine; they kept several beautiful girls out for that reason,” the text to a pageant official reads.

Miss USA organization officials also confirmed to Fox News that they have filed legal action against Monnin.

“The Miss Universe Organization intends on pursuing all of its legal rights and remedies, including monetary damages, against Ms. Monnin for her ongoing defamatory statements,” a rep said in a statement to Fox News.

What do you think of Monnin’s troubles? Will you continue to back her—or do you think this is all sour grapes? Is Trump is a bully? Leave your opinions in the comment section.

This story originally appeared on Cranberry Patch.