'Trump called me Miss Piggy': Former Miss Universe blames The Donald for years of eating disorders after he called her 'an eating machine'

A former Miss Venezuela and Miss Universe has told how Donald Trump called her 'Miss Piggy' and an 'eating machine' after she gained weight.

Alicia Machado, who was also the first winner of Miss Universe to model for Playboy, was just 19 when she won the crown in 1996, shortly after Trump took over the competition.

But when Machado gained 40lbs after taking the crown she says Trump began bullying her and invited media outlets to watch her work out without telling her they would be there.

Alicia Machado, now 39, has opened up about bullying she claims to have suffered from Donald Trump after winning his Miss Universe competition back in 1996 aged just 19

Machado said she felt body-shamed and humiliated by the experience which in turn led to years of eating disorders which took psychotherapy to overcome, she told Inside Edition.

The model's weight became a national talking point following the 1996 competition, with rumors that her crown would be taken away if she gained any more.

Asked about the issue at the time, Trump told reporters: 'She weighed 118 pounds or 117 pounds and she went to 160 or 170. So this is somebody that likes to eat.'

Quizzed on whether he would drop his then-wife Marla Marples if she gained the same amount of weight, Trump said: 'Well, I’d probably do the same thing with her. 

'I'd say "start working out". No, I wouldn't. Still a very interesting question.' 

Machado, who speaks with a heavy Spanish accent, also claims the presumptive Republican nominee nicknamed her 'Miss Housekeeping' because of how she spoke.

The single mother added: 'For sure he is not a nice person. He is a bully. He can’t be a president.'

The actress, who went on to star in several telenovela series, is now in Hollywood to work on two upcoming projects and a memoir.

Machado gained 40lbs following the contest and says Trump began calling her 'Miss Piggy' and an 'eating machine' before forcing her to attend a gym, then inviting the press without telling her

As well as jibes about her size (pictured following the weight-gain), Machado said Trump also nicknamed her 'Miss Housekeeping' because of her strong Spanish accent

Speaking at the time, Trump described Machado as 'somebody that likes to eat' joking that he would have forced then-wife Marla Marples into the gym if she had put on the same amount of weight

She is also about to become an American citizen in time for the election, and when asked whether she would vote for Trump, she simply laughed. 

Machado also spoke to the New York Times for their recent piece on Trump about the experience at the gym, saying she was not told the media would be present.

She recalled: 'I told the president of Miss Universe, a very sweet woman, I said I need some time to recuperate, to rest, to exercise, to eat right.

'I asked them to bring me a doctor to help me - to have a special diet and get exercise, and they said yes.

'They took me to New York, installed me in a hotel. The next day, they took me to the gym, and I'm exposed to 90 media outlets. Donald Trump was there. I had no idea that would happen. 

'I was about to cry in that moment with all the cameras there. I said, "I don't want to do this, Mr Trump." He said, "I don't care."'

Machado (left) says the experience of being forced to work out in front of the cameras led to years of bulimia and anorexia that required therapy to overcome

The former Miss Universe was one of dozens of women quoted in a recent New York Times piece about Trump's attitude to women that the billionaire dismissed as 'a lame hit job'

The 39-year-old added that she suffered from bulimia and anorexia for five years as a result.

The Times piece quoted from dozens of interviews with women who claim Trump has behaved in a derogatory manner to them over the years, from interrupting meetings to commenting on women's figures, to asking one woman to parade around his Mar-a-Lago resort in a bikini.

However, Trump has been highly critical of that article, calling it a 'hit piece' and saying the story either misrepresented the encounters or made them up.

Rowanne Brewer Lane, the woman in the bikini, claims the paper fabricated quotes by her for the article while another 'interviewee', Carrie Prejean, said the paper took quotes from her book but made it seem as if reporters had spoke to her recently.

For INSIDE EDITION’s full report, tune in on Thursday, May 19. Check local listings for stations and times at www.insideedition.com.

The Times piece claimed to have spoken to Carrie Prejean (left with Trump and right), a former Miss California, about her issues with Trump - though she has since claimed the paper embellished quotes from her book

Rowanne Brewer Lane was also quoted in the piece, though she has also accused the paper of fabricating quotes