The fallout from this beauty pageant is getting ugly.
Miss Universe Fiji has been embroiled in scandalous allegations of corruption after the winner was stripped of her crown in favor of a runner-up with close ties to the pageant’s licensee.
Manshika Prasad, 24, was named Miss Universe Fiji at the pageant, which was held on August 30, after securing four votes from the pageant’s seven judges.
But just two days later, runner-up Nadine Roberts, 30, was announced as the current winner in an official statement released by Miss Universe Fiji.
The press release claimed that “correct procedures” were not followed by organizer Grant Dwyer because he “failed to count” an eighth vote from the competition’s licensee, Lux Projects.
Lux Projects – a property development company that bought the license to host Miss Universe Fiji – would have voted for runner-up Roberts, the announcement explained.
That would give four votes to Roberts and four votes to Prasad.
“The licensee shall then decide the winner,” the press release stated, then stating that Roberts was the rightful champion.
However, allegations of corruption soon emerged after the BBC reported that Lux Projects appears to be “closely linked” to an Australian businessman named Jamie McIntyre – the husband of Nadine Roberts.
Roberts told The Post on Thursday that she is the subject of “a desperate smear campaign.”
She claims she has been separated from McIntyre for over a year, so his relationship with Lux Projects had no bearing on the outcome of the contest.
She further alleged that Prasad is managed by pageant organizer Grant Dwyer, hinting that it was the reason she was given the crown.
The Post has also contacted Prasas and Miss Universe Fiji for comment.
Meanwhile, some of the seven judges disappointed by the competition spoke to the BBC saying they had never heard of Lux Projects being eligible to vote in the competition. One judge described the aftermath of the beauty pageant as something that “turned really ugly”.
Judge Jennifer Chan said Prasad was the “clear winner” and was “100% sure” the beauty was the strongest candidate to represent Fiji at the upcoming Miss Universe extravaganza, which will be held in Mexico in November.
Chan also claims runner-up Roberts was “fuming” when she failed to secure the crown on pageant night.
“I remember going to bed thinking, how could anyone feel so righteous about winning?” the judge declared. “You win some, you lose some. She’s a seasoned beauty pageant contestant – surely she knew that?”
After being named the pageant’s new winner in a press release, Roberts took to Instagram to thank Miss Universe Fiji for her “quick action,” according to the BBC.
Meanwhile, a devastated Prasad released her statement saying, “There was a lot the public didn’t know.”
However, on September 6, another stunning change took place: Prasad was re-crowned the winner of Miss Universe Fiji.
It is unclear what prompted the dramatic U-turn.
Prasad announced the surprise news in an Instagram post, saying, “What an incredible journey this has been! A heartfelt thanks to Mr. Grant Dwyer and the team and the amazing @missuniverse for your incredible support throughout this audition process.”
Meanwhile, Roberts’ Instagram still features a post describing her as the current winner of the contest.
But the runner-up has been criticized by followers, with one writing: “Your husband tried and failed to buy you a crown of vanity and now the whole world knows about it.”
“Netflix’s exposure on this is going to be fiery,” said a second.
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Image Source : nypost.com