Alicia Machado — the 1996 Miss Universe and a household name in Latin America — made headlines in the U.S. this week when Hillary Clinton summoned her name to attack Donald Trump over degrading comments.

Clinton said at the presidential debate Monday that Trump had called Machado, who gained weight after her crowning, "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping" because she was a Latina. Trump interrupted: "Where did you find this?"

The allegations that Trump called Machado humiliating names come from the former Venezuelan-born beauty queen herself. But Trump's disapproval of Machado's weight gain is well documented, with the billionaire inviting reporters to watch her exercise at a gym and telling them, "This is somebody who likes to eat."

At the time, Trump said Machado had an obligation to stay in "perfect physical state." He claimed she had gained about 50 pounds, but she has said it was much less.

Maryln Schwartz, a lifestyles columnist for The Dallas Morning News, challenged Trump over his comments. In a column published April 13, 1997, she wrote:

But wait a minute, Donald. I've seen you on TV lately. I don't know how to say this delicately — but you're a bit pudgy yourself.

It's just as unhealthy for men to be overweight. A lot of men watch that pageant. You could be a role model. Your first wife, Ivana, stayed thin. Your second wife, Marla, is ultra-thin. If you expect this from them, why don't you follow their lead?

Schwartz wrote that she called Trump to get a response.

Mr. Trump returned the call and was a good sport. He didn't even wince at the word pudgy or deny he is overweight.

"You're absolutely right," he said. "I really need to do this. I accept the challenge."

Mr. Trump said he has already been dieting. He's lost 20 pounds and weighs 215, but he needs to lose 10 more.

"I will do it by pageant night," he said. He even agreed to a weigh-in, if pressed.

From left: Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo, Donald Trump, recording artist and host Nick Jonas and television personality and host Giuliana Rancic appeared onstage during the Miss USA 2013 pageant in Las Vegas. (File Photo/The Associated Press)

Trump's own weight has become a target for his political rivals in this year's presidential campaign.

His doctor wrote a note shared with the press that described his health as "impeccable." But a Trump aide told The New York Times that Dr. Mehmet Oz, of the eponymous talk show, declared Trump "slightly overweight" at 236 pounds.

Machado has become a Clinton ally. In a video released by the Democratic candidate's campaign, Machado recounts how she struggled with eating disorders.

"I would see myself as fat because a powerful man had said so," she said.

Donald Trump called her "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping."



Her name is Alicia Machado. #DebateNight pic.twitter.com/0wrISjJe6z — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

The controversy over Machado's weight gain, however, didn't stop her career. She went on to become a soap opera star in Latin America, landed spots in reality TV shows and recorded music albums.

Machado also became the face of a diet product called Reduce Fat Fast, touring places like Mexico and Central America to market the supplement.

In 2006, she became the first Miss Universe to pose nude for Playboy. In an interview following the release of the magazine with her photos, she hinted at her history with Trump.

"Only I know my history and the things that I have lived beyond a public image, and for that reason I will sign a magazine for a person who, when I was very young — I was 18 years old — did me much harm. So I'm going to send it as a gift," she told the news agency Efe.

Machado became a U.S. citizen this year and plans to vote against Trump.

Machado posed nude in the February 2006 cover of the Mexican edition of Playboy.

The Republican presidential candidate, meanwhile, called Machado "the absolute worst" during an appearance on Fox and Friends on Tuesday.

"She was the winner, and she gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem ... not only that, her attitude," Trump said. "And Hillary went back into the years and ... found the girl and talked about her like she was Mother Teresa, and it wasn't quite that way, but that's OK. Hillary has to do what she has to do."

Trump no longer owns the Miss Universe pageant. He sold it last year.