• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Leadership

Donald Trump Would Allegedly Walk In On Beauty Pageant Contestants While They Were Naked

By
Madeline Farber
Madeline Farber
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Madeline Farber
Madeline Farber
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 9, 2016, 4:46 PM ET
Donald Trump Endorses GOP Candidate Mitt Romney In Las Vegas
Ethan Miller — Getty Images

Donald Trump would allegedly walk in on beauty pageant contestants while they were not dressed, according to recordings released Saturday by CNN.

Trump told radio host Howard Stern in 2005 that he would often go into the dressing rooms while the contestants were naked, saying in the recordings that he could “sort of get away with things like that.”

The recordings also support claims from Bridget Sullivan, former Miss New Hampshire, that Trump would do this while contestants were undressed during the 2000 Miss USA pageant, BuzzFeed reports. Trump’s campaign originally denied her story, saying in May that her claims were “totally false.”

But her story just received support from Donald Trump after CNN released the recordings yesterday, who owned the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants until last year.

“I’ll tell you the funniest is that I’ll go backstage before a show and everyone’s getting dressed,” Trump told Stern in the recordings. “No men are anywhere, and I’m allowed to go in, because I’m the owner of the pageant and therefore I’m inspecting it…. ‘Is everyone OK’? You know, they’re standing there with no clothes. ‘Is everybody OK?’ And you see these incredible looking women, and so I sort of get away with things like that.”

“The time that he walked through the dressing rooms was really shocking. We were all naked,” Sullivan told BuzzFeed.

Comparing Trump to a “creepy uncle” Sullivan also said the presidential candidate would “hug you just a little low on your back,” according to Buzzfeed.

Trump also referred to his daughter, Ivanka Trump, as a “piece of a–”, and talked about having threesomes, among making other vulgar comments about women in the recordings.

The recordings are the most recent way Trump has come under fire, released only days after he was scrutinized for making lewd comments about using his “star” power to force sexual advances on women.

Fortune has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment and will update the story if we receive response.

About the Author
By Madeline Farber
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Leadership

gen z
CommentaryGen Z
Gen Z is engineering an analog future — and it’s at least a $5 billion opportunity
By Luba KassovaApril 1, 2026
2 minutes ago
As AI reshapes the office, Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For are doubling down on the most human perks
Magazine100 Best Companies to Work For
As AI reshapes the office, Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For are doubling down on the most human perks
By Orianna Rosa RoyleApril 1, 2026
2 minutes ago
AI success is a leadership test—and the 100 Best Companies lead the way
Success100 Best Companies to Work For
AI success is a leadership test—and the 100 Best Companies lead the way
By Michael Bush and Great Place To WorkApril 1, 2026
2 minutes ago
The more women earn, the more housework they do: inside the paradox a Wharton economist calls ‘an existential problem for men’
SuccessLabor
The more women earn, the more housework they do: inside the paradox a Wharton economist calls ‘an existential problem for men’
By Catherina GioinoApril 1, 2026
57 minutes ago
brian
CommentaryCulture
The real engine of innovation is trust
By Brian DoublesMarch 31, 2026
13 hours ago
A man points to a white board during a meeting
Workplace CultureOffice Culture
Liking corporate BS may be a sign you’re bad at decision-making, Cornell expert finds
By Jacqueline MunisMarch 31, 2026
14 hours ago

Most Popular

Jerome Powell says the $39 trillion national debt is ‘not unsustainable,’ but warns the trajectory ‘will not end well’
Economy
Jerome Powell says the $39 trillion national debt is ‘not unsustainable,’ but warns the trajectory ‘will not end well’
By Fortune EditorsMarch 30, 2026
2 days ago
A man used AI to call 3,000 Irish bartenders to track the cost of Guinness. Now pubs are lowering their prices to compete
AI
A man used AI to call 3,000 Irish bartenders to track the cost of Guinness. Now pubs are lowering their prices to compete
By Fortune EditorsMarch 30, 2026
2 days ago
Markets cheer as Trump threatens to abandon Iran war, but Jamie Dimon sides with allies: ‘Win this thing and clean up the straits’
Energy
Markets cheer as Trump threatens to abandon Iran war, but Jamie Dimon sides with allies: ‘Win this thing and clean up the straits’
By Fortune EditorsMarch 31, 2026
18 hours ago
The federal government shed 385,000 employees last year. Now the Trump administration is on a blitz to hire Gen Z workers
Politics
The federal government shed 385,000 employees last year. Now the Trump administration is on a blitz to hire Gen Z workers
By Fortune EditorsMarch 31, 2026
1 day ago
A CEO trying to reindustrialize America says blue-collar pay is headed for 'massive hyperinflation' and kids should skip college to become welders
Success
A CEO trying to reindustrialize America says blue-collar pay is headed for 'massive hyperinflation' and kids should skip college to become welders
By Fortune EditorsMarch 30, 2026
2 days ago
Kevin O'Leary says if you earn $68,000 a year and follow this rule, you'll retire a millionaire
Personal Finance
Kevin O'Leary says if you earn $68,000 a year and follow this rule, you'll retire a millionaire
By Fortune EditorsMarch 31, 2026
17 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.