A former Miss Switzerland runner-up has stepped forward with allegations about an unsettling encounter with Donald Trump dating back to 1993, bringing renewed attention to the former president's past behavior towards women.
According to Daily Mail, Beatrice Keul, now 53, claims Trump made inappropriate advances toward her during a private meeting at New York's Plaza Hotel after inviting her to participate in his American Dream Pageant.
The Swiss beauty queen, who stands at 6'1", says her physical stature helped her fend off the unwanted advances. The incident allegedly occurred when Keul, then 21, traveled from Zurich to participate in Trump's pageant. She had previously placed second in the 1992 Miss Switzerland competition and reached the finals of Miss Europe in Istanbul that same year.
Keul describes being approached by a Trump staffer following a press luncheon, who informed her that Trump wanted a private meeting. Upon entering one of the hotel's upper-floor suites, she claims the encounter quickly turned physical.
The former model shared her recollection of the incident with Daily Mail. She states:
I thought Trump wanted to talk, as the other guy told me. I was confident, but I went with closed eyes. When I entered, he jumped on me. I just had time to turn. I was not prepared. I tried to do what I could to get rid of him.
The Swiss national maintains that Trump attempted to kiss her on the lips and neck while trying to lift her dress. She credits her tall frame for helping her resist the alleged advances.
Keul's account gains credibility through recently discovered documentation she found while preparing to move homes. The materials include original plane tickets and Trump's invitation to the pageant.
Pascal Claivaz, a Swiss writer and longtime friend, corroborates Keul's story. He confirms she first shared these allegations with him around 2004, approximately 20 years ago, maintaining that her account has remained consistent.
The Trump campaign responded to the allegations after the Daily Mail's publication, with National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declaring the accusations false and suggesting they were politically motivated.
Keul's story bears striking similarities to accusations made by other women against Trump. The former president faces multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior, including a recent claim by former Sports Illustrated model Stacey Williams about an incident in 1993.
Writer E. Jean Carroll's successful legal action against Trump, resulting in over $88 million in damages, represents one of the most prominent cases. At least 27 women have come forward with various allegations of misconduct against the former president.
The timing of Keul's revelation coincides with the ongoing presidential race, where Trump currently leads in polls against Kamala Harris. The former beauty queen explains her delayed disclosure, citing the recent discovery of documentation and her previous desire to forget the incident.
These allegations add to a growing list of similar accusations against Trump, spanning decades and involving women from various backgrounds in the modeling and pageant industries. While Trump's team continues to deny all such claims, the consistency and documentation of these accounts contribute to ongoing public discourse about his past conduct.
