Trump always respectful, says ex-Miss Universe as video shows awkward exchange
An Australian former Miss Universe has said that Donald Trump 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 Mr Trump, now the Republican presidential nominee.
In the video, Mr Trump accuses her 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 Ms Hawkins raising her forearm between her and Mr Trump as he kisses her on the cheek.
He gets laughs from the crowd with a double entendre and she tells Mr Trump that he has embarrassed her before leaving the stage.
Ms Hawkins, who Mr Trump has described as his favourite Miss Universe, is a successful businesswoman who has praised him as an inspiration.
"Donald and his family, I have to say, have always been respectful to me, and that's all I can really say," the 32-year-old said in Melbourne on Saturday as she was questioned by media in her role as an Australian department store ambassador.
"I've seen what's been going on in the news, but really what is there for me to say other than that he respected me during that time in my life and I have a lot of respect for him because of that," she added, referring to the 2004 pageant.
Ms Hawkins has cancelled media interviews since early October, when video emerged of Mr Trump engaged in vulgar conversation about women before an Access Hollywood appearance in 2005.
Mr Trump told the Sydney audience in September 2011 that he had prepared to denigrate Ms Hawkins in his speech if she had not turned up to introduce him.
He said Ms Hawkins owed him for her success.
"Get even with people. If they screw you, screw them back 10 times as hard and I'll give you an example: Jennifer Hawkins," Mr Trump said.
