The Miss Universe Organization has filed an arbitration action against Sheena Monnin.
Miss Pennsylvania Sheena Monnin PHILADELPHIA — The Miss Universe Organization says it has filed an arbitration action against a former contestant who alleges the pageant was rigged.
Pageant officials also released a statement from Miss Florida USA denying the claims made by Sheena Monnin as the reason she resigned as Miss Pennsylvania USA.
Earlier Friday, Monnin told NBC's "Today" show she was standing by her claim that a fellow contestant told her she saw the list of finalists hours before the pageant.
Miss Universe officials say Monnin actually resigned because organizers decided to admit transgender contestants.
Monnin said there are "myriad" reasons she stepped down but the list of finalists was her primary motivation.
A lawyer for pageant organizers say the action was filed with a private dispute entity named in the contestant contract. The Miss Universer Organization is owned by developer Donald Trump and NBC Universal.
Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island was crowned the new Miss USA on Sunday night. The 20-year-old cellist and Boston University student was chosen by a panel of judges from a field of 51 contestants at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.
In the final round, the Cranston, RI, native was faced with the most difficult question of the night: Would it be fair for a transgender contestant to be named Miss Universe? Culpo embraced the Miss Universe Organization's recent decision to admit transgender contestants.
Culpo will represent the United States in this year’s Miss Universe pageant.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.