The Valley star Nia Sanchez reflected on her interaction with President Donald Trump while competing in Miss USA.
“When Trump owned the Miss USA/Miss Universe organization, there was one time when he brought all of his golf buddies to come watch all of us rehearse,” Nia, 36, claimed in Us Weekly’s exclusive clip from Amanda Hirsch’s “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast. “It was actually kind of creepy.”
Nia alleged that she and the other women didn’t feel “very comfortable” during the interaction. (Trump sold the Miss Universe Organization in 2015.)
“We were in the middle of rehearsals and he brought all of these older men in to watch us perform,” she continued, noting that men would apparently ask the women to take pictures with the contestants.
“I definitely, very intentionally, gabbed and released one of their hands very specifically,” Nia claimed. “I was like, ‘Don’t ever put your hands on me without asking.’”
Us Weekly has reached out to Miss USA for comment.
Nia was crowned Miss USA 2014, representing Nevada in the competition. She went on to represent the United States in Miss Universe 2014 where she finished as the first runner-up.
Nia looked back on the 10-year anniversary of her win as Miss Nevada USA in a January 2024 Instagram caption.
“10 years ago my journey to Miss USA and Miss Universe started when I was crowned @missnvusa,” she wrote on social media at the time. “I will forever be grateful for the love and support of my friends and family and the leadership of @shannamoakler. Wow. This day truly changed the trajectory of my life. God is good.”
During season 1 of The Valley in March 2024, Nia explained how her Miss USA past allowed her and husband Danny Booko to make money. (Nia and Danny, 42, wed in 2015. They are parents to four kids.)
“Since being Miss USA, I’m now hired by brands to promote them and post on social media,” she said, telling Danny that his salary is for necessities. Hers, meanwhile, serves another purpose.
“What I say is we live off your salary and mine is for fun,” Nia said at the time. “For travel, for extra expenses.”
She added, “All of our money goes into the same bank account so we are paying for it.”
The full episode of “Not Skinny But Not Fat” drops Tuesday, July 7, on all podcast platforms.
