Controversial Beauty Queens: Their Stories and Impact
Miss Universe Canada Controversy
Denise Garrido, left, was crowned Miss Universe Canada in May 2013, but the committee gave the title to Riza Santos 24 hours later, saying it had made a mistake.
Vanessa Williams: A Pivotal Moment in Pageantry
Vanessa Williams stepped down in 1984 as the first black Miss America after nude photos of her appeared in Penthouse magazine. Consequently, she went on to have a successful career in singing and acting, and has authored a memoir. In September, Sam Haskell, the executive chairman and CEO for Miss America, offered an apology to Williams on behalf of the organization.
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Miss Lebanon and Miss Israel: A Social Media Uproar
An image posted on social media showing Miss Lebanon Saly Greige, right, and Miss Israel Doron Matalon together ignited an online uproar. The picture appeared on Matalon’s Instagram feed on January 11. Greige responded by posting a statement on Facebook stating she was “very cautious to avoid being in any photo or communication with Miss Israel.”
Marjorie Wallace: A Miss World Controversy
Marjorie Wallace lost her Miss World 1973 title because the organization stated that dating celebrities like Tom Jones during her reign threatened its reputation. She had entered the pageant as Miss America.
Gabriella Brum: Resignation After Victory
Gabriella Brum resigned within a day of winning the Miss World crown in 1980, stating her boyfriend was unhappy with her beauty queen duties.
Alicia Machado: The Body Image Battle
Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996, risked her crown after gaining some weight. She managed to lose the weight and retain her title.
Katrin Wrobel: Challenging Norms in Pageantry
Katrin Wrobel, Miss Germany 2002, challenged a clause that forbade her from posing nude or marrying. She ultimately canceled her contract after gaining fame as a television game show host.
Tara Conner: Overcoming Adversities
Tara Conner nearly lost her 2006 Miss USA title due to substance abuse issues and her subsequent rehabilitation. After the revelations from her wild partying made national headlines, she was allowed to retain her crown.
Carrie Prejean: Legal Battles and Controversies
Carrie Prejean was stripped of her Miss California USA title in 2009 after a long legal battle with the contest. Allegations arose that suggest lingerie modeling photos emerged that breached her contract.
Cynthia de la Vega: Weight Controversies
Mexican beauty queen Cynthia de la Vega stated that officials took away her crown after she gained weight, which prevented her from competing in the 2011 Miss World pageant. However, pageant officials countered, saying she lacked dedication and discipline.
Melissa King: Resignation Over Past Choices
Melissa King, who was named Miss Delaware Teen USA, resigned in 2013 after a porn video she made before the pageant went viral.
Analouisa Valencia: Trailblazing in Pageantry
Analouisa Valencia blazed trails in her quest to become Miss South Carolina in 2013, being a biracial lesbian contestant who was crowned Palmetto Princess in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
