She made the move for citizenship so she can vote against Trump this year

Machado has now taken all the steps to become a legal U.S. citizen

She says after winning, she was subjected to Trump's harassment

Machado has lived in the U.S. for two decades since winning the

A former Miss Universe winner has chosen to become a U.S. citizen so she can cast her vote against the GOP presumptive nominee Donald Trump.

Alicia Machado, the 1996 Miss Universe representing Venezuela, has lived in the United States for 20 years.

After competing the the pageant, Machado said she was subjected to verbal abuse from Trump.

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Alicia Machado (pictured), the 1996 Miss Universe representing Venezuela, is becoming a U.S. citizen to vote against Donald Trump

After competing the the pageant, the model and actress said she was subjected to verbal abuse from Trump

She says he called her 'Miss Piggy' because she began to gain weight.

Machado, who was also the first winner of Miss Universe to model for Playboy, was just 19 when she won the crown, shortly after Trump took over the competition.

But when Machado gained 40lbs after winning the competition she says Trump began bullying her and invited media outlets to watch her work out without telling her they would be there.

Asked about the issue at the time, Trump told reporters: 'She weighed 118 pounds or 117 pounds and she went to 160 or 170. So this is somebody that likes to eat.'

The 39-year-old Machado added that she suffered from bulimia and anorexia for five years as a result.

'He hates girls. He considers girls to be less. We have another status to him.

'He made me feel small. He threatened me, treated me rudely. He called me ‘Ms. Housekeeping’ in front of his friends,' Machado told ThinkProgress.

Despite two decades in the U.S., what spurred Machado to become a formally recognized citizen was Trump's bid for the White House.

She says Trump (pictured) called her 'Miss Piggy' because she began to gain weight and that he doesn't like women

'It was like a great monster reappearing in my life. In the beginning, I thought there was no way this loco will ever win.

'But after the primaries I realized I need to vote. I can’t invite my community to step up if I won’t do it myself,' she said.

Machado has passed her citizenship test and is waiting to receive her U.S. passport.

Now she's encouraging others to follow her lead.

She's also teamed up with legendary civil rights activist Dolores Huerta to rally a common cause, according to Indy100.

Machado and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta are teaming up to encourage Latino and Hispanic voters to cast their ballots for Hillary Clinton

Both are encouraging Latino and Hispanic voters to cast their ballots for Hillary Clinton.

'We are a free country, and we can’t give that up for a crazy, ignorant, ambitious, misogynistic despot who just wants to slake his thirst for power,' Machado told the New York Times.