Tegan Martin has lifted the lid on her surprise encounter with Donald Trump at the Miss Universe 2014 pageant.
The model 31, shared her experiences with fellow Miss Universe Australia winner Olivia Molly Rogers on her Tell Me More podcast this week, revealing how Trump took a liking to her during a visit to his golf course in Miami.
At the time, Trump owned the Miss Universe pageant and was known to mingle with the beauty queens off-stage.
‘I was one of the girls that he spent a lot of time talking to. He would come over and we would have these minor interactions,’ the blonde said.
While Tegan had no idea Trump would one day become the US President, she said she was fascinated by the man due to his larger-than-life personality and star status.
Tegan Martin, 31, has lifted the lid on her surprise encounter with Donald Trump, 77, at the Miss Universe 2014 pageant. (Both pictured in 2014 at Trump’s golf course ahead of the pageant)
However she did admit that things became ‘weird’ when Trump and his golfing buddies began dropping in on the Miss Universe catwalk rehearsals.
‘We’re here at Donald Trump’s golf resort in Miami, and he’s got an entourage of golf mates and they’re walking around playing golf, popping into our walking rehearsals… and just watching us walk.’
‘People would always say, “There’s a bit of Hugh Hefner in it”, and I was like, “No, it’s completely different. But it’s still weird”. Like, it’s Donald Trump and I don’t know why he’s hanging around.’
The model, (right) shared her experiences with fellow Miss Universe Australia winner Olivia Molly Rogers (left) on her Tell Me More podcast this week, revealing how Trump took a liking to her during a visit to his golf course in Miami
Tegan also recalled the unexpected moment Trump called her over to answer a joke phone call.
One day he was talking to me, and he said: “Australia” – because no one called us by our actual names – “Australia, come here! My mate Skippy’s on the phone.” I was like, “What?” So he put his phone up to my ear and there was all these photographers [taking photos of me],’ she said.
‘And that photo went viral. It was like, “Miss Universe Australia’s talking to Trump! He’s got his phone up to her ear!”‘
However she did admit that things became ‘weird’ when Trump and his golfing buddies began dropping in on the Miss Universe catwalk rehearsals
‘People would always say, “There’s a bit of Hugh Hefner in it”, and I was like, “No, it’s completely different. But it’s still weird”. Like, it’s Donald Trump and I don’t know why he’s hanging around’
In summation, Tegan described Trump as ‘respectful’ and ‘polite’ to the contestants and staff at the pageant, while adding that the politician ‘definitely had his favourites’ among the beauty queens.
The Newcastle-born model managed to make it into the top 10 of the pageant before being eliminated.
Paulina Vega of Colombia won the title that year.