Alicia Machado's story is one of triumph over adversity, marked by public scrutiny, personal struggles, and ultimately, empowerment. Crowned Miss Universe in 1996 at the young age of 19, the Venezuelan beauty queen's experience took a dark turn when she gained weight shortly after winning the pageant, then owned by Donald Trump. What followed was a period of public shaming and intense pressure that would have lasting effects on her health and well-being. However, Machado emerged from this experience stronger, using her platform to advocate for body positivity, women's rights, and Latino communities.
The Miss Universe Reign and Public Scrutiny
In May 1996, Alicia Machado won the Miss Universe pageant. "I remember I hug my mom and I tell her, now our lives is going to be changed forever," she recalled. However, her golden year quickly turned into a traumatizing one.
Donald Trump, then the owner of the Miss Universe organization, publicly shamed Machado for gaining weight, labeling her "Miss Piggy" and "an eating machine." This public humiliation reached its peak in January 1997 when Trump put Machado on a "stringent diet and exercise regime" and invited the media to a New York City gym to film her workout. Machado felt like "a mouse in a cage," forced to perform for the entertainment of others.
Trump's comments at the time were particularly harsh. He claimed Machado had gained a significant amount of weight, even suggesting she would "eat the whole gymnasium". Machado, however, says she gained only a fraction of that weight but she didn’t dare correct him; she was already frightened he’d make good on a threat to strip her of her crown if she didn’t follow through on the performance at the gym. The media loved the spectacle, and so did Trump, who didn’t hesitate to pass out some memorable if fallacious tidbits himself.
The Aftermath: Eating Disorders and Recovery
The ordeal had a devastating impact on Machado's health. Although she had no prior history of eating disorders, she developed anorexia and bulimia in the years that followed. It took her five years to fully recover.
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Machado's experience highlights the damaging effects of body shaming and the unrealistic expectations placed on women, particularly those in the public eye. Her story is a testament to the importance of self-acceptance and body positivity.
Finding Her Voice: Activism and Empowerment
In recent years, Machado has transformed her personal struggles into a powerful platform for advocacy. She has become an outspoken voice for women's rights, body positivity, and the Latino community.
In June, Machado teamed up with civil rights icon Dolores Huerta in Virginia to join immigrant advocacy groups in encouraging Latinos to register - and to vote for Clinton. She took her own advice to heart, too. On 19 August she became a registered US citizen, pledging in a post on Instagram to cast her ballot for Clinton. Later that month she traveled to Florida to lend her star power to a Clinton campaign drive to register Latino voters, posting video excerpts from the trip to social media accounts.
Machado's activism is fueled by her own experiences with discrimination and her desire to create a more inclusive and equitable society. She understands that her celebrity means she has a responsibility to speak up about her experiences when they can help people. “If I can be a voice for my Latino community in this moment, I will do it,” she told the Guardian.
A Voice Against Trump
Alicia Machado became an American citizen to vote against Donald Trump. In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton brought up Trump's past treatment of Machado during a debate, highlighting his demeaning comments about her weight and Latina origins.
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Trump's response to Clinton's remarks only further underscored his insensitivity and lack of remorse. He continued to criticize Machado, calling her "the worst we ever had" and claiming she had gained a "massive amount of weight."
Machado's story became a powerful symbol of Trump's problematic views on women and his history of body shaming. Her willingness to speak out against him, despite the potential for further attacks, demonstrated her courage and commitment to fighting for what she believes in.
Life Beyond the Crown: Success and Resilience
That Machado is thriving these days was readily apparent from where she sat in her publicist’s fourth-floor office in West Hollywood, and apparent in many different realms. She has traded pageants for success as an actor, starring in a string of telenovelas - a childhood dream come true. She is also a successful businesswoman, with a line of products bearing her name. And she is the proud mother of a seven-year-old girl, whose privacy she fiercely protects.
More recently, she has added another title to her list of identities: activist. In June, Machado teamed up with civil rights icon Dolores Huerta in Virginia to join immigrant advocacy groups in encouraging Latinos to register - and to vote for Clinton. She took her own advice to heart, too. On 19 August she became a registered US citizen, pledging in a post on Instagram to cast her ballot for Clinton. Later that month she traveled to Florida to lend her star power to a Clinton campaign drive to register Latino voters, posting video excerpts from the trip to social media accounts.
Lessons Learned and a Message of Hope
Machado's journey has taught her valuable lessons about self-worth, resilience, and the importance of using one's voice to make a difference. She hopes to inspire others, particularly young people, to embrace their bodies and resist the pressures of societal expectations.
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"No matter what, no matter who tells you that you don’t look good, that is only outside," she said. "You are more than some weight. You are more than some phase. You are more than if you are short or tall, or you are black or you are white, or you are skinny or fat or whatever. Your value is how you can work, how you can feel for the people around you."