In 2018, Jeffrey Toobin of The New Yorker reported that Donald Trump, owner of the Miss Universe Organization at the time, personally interfered with the selection of finalists in the Miss Universe contestant selection, in order to further his other business interests around the world. Tobin's reporting was based on testimony form contestants, including Yamoah, who said:[7]
He made comments about every girl: ‘I’ve been to that country.’ ‘We’re building a Trump Tower there.’ It was clear the countries that he liked did well. He’d whisper to Paula about the girls, and she’d write it down. He basically told us he picked nine of the top fifteen.