Australian Miss Universe says Trump treated her with respect Oct 29, 2016 3:00 AM

CANBERRA, Australia — An Australian former Miss Universe said Saturday that Donald Trump had always treated her with respect after a video emerged of an embarrassing exchange between the pair in Sydney in 2011.

Jennifer Hawkins won the pageant in 2004, when it was owned by Trump. Trump, now the Republican presidential nominee, accuses her in the video as he addresses 10,000 people at the National Achievers Congress in Sydney of initially refusing to introduce him. She blames a “miscommunication” with her management.

The video, released by Huffington Post, shows Hawkins raising her forearm between she and Trump as Trump kisses her on the cheek. He gets laughs from the crowd with a double entendre and she tells Trump that he has embarrassed her before leaving the stage.

Hawkins, who Trump has described as his favourite Miss Universe, is a successful businesswoman who has praised Trump as an inspiration.