- Miss Earth-Cuba Monica Aguilar discredited candidates who experienced sexual harassment.
- She insisted that there was no sexual harassment that happened during the pageant.
- Miss Earth-Tonga Maria Aholelei told her that other girls have different encounters and that she should be mindful of the other girls and their pain.
Miss Earth-Cuba Monica Aguilar recently posted a photo on Instagram, explaining her views on the sexual harassment that happened during the said pageant. She, however, discredited the experiences and trauma that the other girls experienced. In response, Miss Earth-Tonga Maria Aholelei told her that she should be mindful of the other girls and their pain.
Candidates experience sexual harassment.
The reports started when Miss Earth-Canada Jaime Yvonne Vandenberg, Miss Earth-England Abbey-Anne Gyles-Brown and Miss Earth-Guam Emma Mae Sheedy publicly shared their experiences on being sexually harassed by a pageant sponsor named Amado S. Cruz.
Vandeberg eventually left the competition as she no longer felt safe under the organization’s care. Gyles-Brown attested to the harassment that she and other girls experienced. Sheedy, on the other hand, named their harasser in her public statement.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp2cOy7nWMG/?utm_source=ig_embed
Aguilar says no sexual harassment happened.
Monica insisted that there was no sexual harassment that happened during the pageant.
“I have read the testimonies of several candidates complaining about supposed sexual harassment. I can confirm there was no sexual harassment happening in any shape or form. Yes, some of the sponsors did ask us if we wanted to go to Boracay after the pageant. But no one promised to get us further in the competition through “sexual favors.””
“I don’t think an invitation to Boracay is sexual harassment! All you can do is say no thank you and move on with your life! No matter where you go in life, these type of things happen but it is your responsibility to say no and walk away. After I said no thank you to the Boracay trip, the sponsor never bothered me again!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp4g1mQh7H8/?utm_source=ig_embed
Aguilar further discredited the trauma that the other girls experienced on her Instagram post.
“This is not something that the team managers should be blamed for. I felt extremely safe this entire month under the care of our team managers. They counted our heads before we went on the buses, at the venue and before we got off the buses. They even made sure we had police escorts to go to the bathroom!”
“As for the passports being confiscated, I am very grateful for this! We had a total of 4 flights arounf the Philippines, and it was extremely hectic trying to get luggages ready for every out of town trip. I think it was very smart and handy if the team managers keeping our passports for easier and smoother flight check-ins.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp5Wz9UnAAR/?utm_source=ig_embed
Monica continued to insist that sexual harassment did not happen during any event of the pageant.
“In conclusion, sexual harassment was not present in any shape or form, and the team managers did an outstanding job at keeping us safe. The Miss Earth Organization, especially Peach and Lorraine have done everything in their power to keep us safe and I think the world, or the Earth rather, needs to know what really went on!”
Aholelei backs up other candidates.
Maria left a comment on Monica’s post. She pointed out that other girls have different experiences. She continued to support Jaime Yvonne for speaking up about her encounter. Aholelei, then, told Aguilar that she should be mindful of the other girls and their pain.
“just because you didn’t experience it doesn’t mean that the sexual harassment didn’t happen. Re think before you speak because other girls are in different positions throughout the competition. I was one of the candidates this year representing my country and I can says this statement of yours has its rights and wrongs. I’m 100% backing up @missjaimeyvonne and the other girls as there are more of them finally speaking up about the experience. If you didn’t encounter any harassments then please be mindful of the other girls and their pain.”
Miss Earth Organization has yet to speak up about the said issue.
