During Monday night's Presidential debate, Hilary Clinton revealed a 20-year-old tale of Donald Trump that's been, for the most part, forgotten by the media. This tale regards Alicia Machado, who won the title of Miss Universe in 1996. Following her win, the 18-year-old Venezuelan found herself under attack by Trump, who at that time was the chairman for Trump Entertainment Records and executive producer for the pageant, for gaining weight. She claims that it was about 12 pounds, but Trump ascertains that it was more. Most famously, Trump accompanied Ms. Machado to a gym, watching her exercise alongside numerous reporters and cameramen.
"This is somebody who likes to eat!" he said as he posed for photographs beside her.
He later went on to dub her names such as "Miss Piggy" for her weight gain and "Miss Housekeeping" because of her Latina heritage.
Trump and Machado sat down for a joint interview with José Díaz-Balart regarding the upcoming Miss Universe pageant on CBS This Morning in 1997. Díaz-Balart questioned Trump regarding the question that viewers would be able to vote on for the pageant: should a pageant title holder be required to maintain her physical appearance during her reign? Trump used Machado as his reasoning for the question, and while he stated that she had "turned out to be one of the great Miss Universes," Trump also mentioned that, "she had a little problem during the middle where she gained a little weight."
Machado: I don't think so.
Trump: Yeah, she's probably right. OK.
While Machado agreed that for the year, the title holder should work to maintain her image, she added, "I think all the women in the world have a problem with weight. I think maybe I had some problems with this, but I'm fine right now. Fifteen pounds is nothing when you're 20 years old."
To add onto what Machado said, it is important to maintain a healthy weight and to take pride in one's appearance. The goal should be to keep one's body healthy, not to obsess over pounds.
Clinton mentioned during the debate that Machado became a U.S. citizen last spring. "And you can bet she's going to vote this November," she quipped.
The following morning, Trump expanded on the story with Fox News. "She gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real program." He went on to mention that Machado won't affect female voters' perception of him, according to a poll that came out post-debate from "the Google."
Reports have stated that Machado developed anorexia and bulimia, which she struggled with for the next five years. Again, she was eighteen at the time.
Fortunately, this story has a happy ending for Machado. She is in a better place and is now a celebrated actress in Latin America, but states that it has been very difficult to combat this period in her life.
And Trump, let me end this by approaching you directly. Did you know that approximately 1% of adolescents suffer from anorexia, and 4% have bulimia? Adolescents exist in such an impressionable state, and when the media or someone influential such as yourself tells them to do something, they feel like they need to do it. The media's (including your) rigid perception of how a woman should look in order to be considered beautiful is so damaging and can negatively impact an adolescent like Machado was at the time. Remember that the next time you decide to barrage someone on their appearance or on something else that is difficult to control.
