Alicia Machado spotted in the audience for Dancing with the Stars amid Trump bullying controversy

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Alicia Machado was seen sitting in the audience of Dancing with the Stars
The former Miss Universe was branded 'Miss Piggy' by Donald Trump
Republican has escalated his attacks on Machado last week after her name was raised in the Presidential Debate
But she seemed unfazed today when cameras caught her smiling in the audience of the popular reality show
Appearance has sparked rumors she could appear in the next season
Potential contestants are often invited to join the audience, sources say
Machado previously appeared as a contestant on a Spanish dancing show

Published: 15:37 EST, 4 October 2016 | Updated: 18:38 EST, 4 October 2016

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The former Miss Universe, branded 'Miss Piggy' by Donald Trump, has been spotted in the audience of Dancing with the Stars- sparking rumors she may appear on the next season.

Viewers saw Alicia Machado – who has made headlines all week since Hillary Clinton first mentioned her in Monday’s presidential debate – sitting in the audience of the popular reality show on Monday.

Trump escalated his attacks on Machado last week, who he had fat-shamed for gaining weight after winning Miss Universe in 1996.

But Venezuelan-born Machado seemed unfazed by the attacks, as cameras caught the former beauty queen smiling and laughing as they panned to the audience.

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The former Miss Universe, branded 'Miss Piggy' by Donald Trump, has been spotted in the audience of Dancing with the Stars- sparking rumors she may appear on the next season

But Venezuelan-born Machado seemed unfazed by the attacks, as cameras caught the former beauty queen smiling and laughing as they panned to the audience

Former Dancing with the Stars competitor Maria Menounos posted a picture of herself posing with Machado on Instagram with the caption: 'Found this beauty tonight…#aliciamachado#dwts.'

The unexpected appearance has set the rumor mill running that she could appear in the next season of the ABC show.

A show insider told Fox News that producers often invite potential contestants to become an audience member first to see if the show is right for them.

And the controversy surrounding Machado is unlikely to put executives off.

Machado was in the audience for the celebrity-filled show which features Ryan Lochte this year

Former Dancing with the Stars competitor Maria Menounos posted a picture of herself posing with Machado on Instagram with the caption: 'Found this beauty tonight…#aliciamachado#dwts'

Dancing with the Stars has embraced controversial dancers, such as the scandal-hit Ryan Lochte this season - who are likely to boost ratings.

Machado has past experience too. She came third when she appeared on the third season of Spanish dancing show Mira Quien Baila in 2012.

Clinton raised Machado's name in the first presidential debate, noting Trump mocked her as ‘Miss Piggy’ when she gained weight.

Trump denounced Machado in a television interview the next morning and resumed his attacks with tweets on Friday, questioning her sexual history and whether Clinton helped her become a citizen.

‘Did Crooked Hillary help disgusting (check out sex tape and past) Alicia M become a U.S. citizen so she could use her in the debate?’ Trump said on Twitter in the early hours of Friday.

His tweets prompted Clinton to denounce the tirade as ‘unhinged, even for him.’

‘Who gets up at 3 o'clock in the morning to engage in a Twitter attack?’ Clinton asked at an event in Coral Springs.

Machado has past experience on dancing competitions; She came third when she appeared on the third season of Spanish dancing show Mira Quien Baila in 2012 (pictured)

She said Trump's slew of tweets against Machado show that he is ‘temperamentally unfit’ to be president.

Meanwhile, Machado defended herself on Instagram calling Trump’s attacks ‘cheap lies with bad intentions.’

‘The Republican candidate and his campaign are, once again launching attacks, insults and are attempting to revive slanders and false accusations about my life, in order to humiliate, intimidate and unbalance me,’ she wrote.

Machado has posed naked for Playboy’s Mexican version and starred in racy reality television programs, Politico reported.

And media outlets have found no evidence that she has starred in pornographic films.

Clinton raised Machado's name in the first presidential debate, noting Trump mocked her as ‘Miss Piggy’ when she gained weight

Machado was crowned Miss Universe in 1996 (left) but says that Trump had humiliated her, calling her Miss Piggy (right, with him in 1997)

Trump escalated his attack on Machado, calling her 'disgusting' in the early hours of Friday

It has emerged however, that Trump himself made a cameo in an explicit Playboy film in 2000.

Trump’s attacks on Machado have also further threatened Trump’s precarious standing with female and Hispanic voters.

Clinton also reached out to Machado on Friday afternoon to thank her 'for all she has done and the courage she has shown,' according to campaign spokesman Nick Merrill.

He said Machado promised to continue supporting her and said she would stand up to the attacks.

Campaign communications director Jennifer Palmieri also said that Clinton did not help Machado become a citizen.