2016 Presidential Debate Aftermath – Who is Alicia Machado, the Latina Donald Trump Called ‘Miss Housekeeping’
Late into Monday night's first presidential debate, Hillary Clinton steered the conversation towards women Donald Trump has called "pigs, slobs, and dogs."
The only woman Clinton identified by name is Alicia Machado, a former Miss Universe who endured psychological pain resulting from Trump's taunts.
"One of the worst things he said was about a woman in a beauty contests - he loves beauty contests, supporting them and hanging out around them - and he called this woman 'Miss Piggy,' then he called her 'Miss Housekeeping' because she was Latina," Clinton said.
Clinton continued, "Donald, she has a name. Her name is Alicia Machado. And she has become a U.S. citizen and you can bet she is going to vote this November." The Clinton campaign released a video minutes after the debate wrapped up highlighting Machado's story.
From Miss Universe to 'Miss Piggy'
Machado was crowned 1996 Miss Universe at 19 years old. Rumors about the Venezuela-born model's weight began making the rounds soon after, first by the Venezuelan press then U.S. publications. According to a PEOPLE, Machado was in danger of losing her title if she did not lose 27 pounds over two weeks.
Trump, who co-owned the Miss Universe Organization, hired a trainer for Machado. He invited a gaggle of reports to watch Machado work out, unbeknownst to her.
"She weighed 118 pounds or 117 pounds and she went up to 160 or 170. So this is somebody that likes to eat," Trump said.
Last May, Machado told Inside Edition Trump called her "Miss Piggy" for her weight and "Miss Housekeeping" because she is Latina. Depression led to anorexia and bulimia. "Over the past 20 years, I've gone to a lot of psychologists to combat this."
She openly campaigned for Clinton a month later, appearing at a Virginia press conference hosted by immigration advocacy groups. In July she was featured at the 1st Annual Domestic Workers Assembly in South Florida, an event that pushed for legislation protecting domestic workers' rights.
Machado was among the first to congratulate Clinton following Monday night's debate. "Thank you Mrs. Hillary Clinton your respect for women and our differences makes you great! I'm with you!," she tweeted.
Minutes later, Machado tweeted a selfie with a caption that read, "I received my passport! I'm ready to vote For my country for you @HillaryClinton for my daughter For women workers."
Trump called into "Fox and Friends" Tuesday morning to clarify that Machado's weight gain was a problem for his Miss Universe pageant.
"She was the winner, she gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem. Not only that, her attitude," Trump said. "And Hillary went back into the years...found the girl talked about her like she was Mother Teresa, and it wasn't quite that way, but that's OK. Hillary has to do what she has to do."
As for defending himself over the derogatory terms Clinton cited, Trump congratulated himself for self-restraint. "I was going to hit her with her husband's women, and I decided I shouldn't do it. I didn't feel comfortable doing it with Chelsea [Clinton] in the room. I think Chelsea's a fine young lady," Trump said.
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