Former Miss Universe Contestant Who Appeared to Kiss Donald Trump Recalls What Really Went Down

In 2011, President Donald Trump appeared to kiss Angela Martini — who competed in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant — on the lips, and the photo made headlines. Now, the former pageant queen is explaining what really happened.

During an interview with the Daily Mail published Friday, December 5, the 39-year-old said the photo (taken at a Miss Universe photo shoot and press conference at Chelsea Piers) was “just an optical illusion,” explaining that it only appeared that they were kissing on the lips because of the camera angle.

In reality, according to Martini, they simply kissed on the cheek.

“It was not true, but it looks weird in the picture because even the other contestant … she has a weird expression like she’s shocked,” Martini said of the photo.

Since the two were snapped together almost 15 years ago, the model and life coach told the Daily Mail that she’s run into Trump, 79, and his wife, Melania, and said the First Family was always “very polite and nice.”

“I always had a very respectful relationship with him,” she said of the Apprentice alum. “I never felt the bad vibe.”

A year before the viral picture was taken, she met Trump backstage before competing for Miss Universe.

Martini claimed that Trump was respectful backstage, telling the outlet, “He was very nice. He never flirted. It was very professional.”

Martini, who won Miss Universe Albania 2010, ultimately placed sixth in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant held in Las Vegas, Nevada.