So who should keep the crown?

texas*princess · #1 09-12-2002, 06:00 PM

OK, I'm sure by now many people have heard about the whole Miss North Carolina situation. I think the whole situation is interesting because I read that the Prelim.'s of the Miss America pagent had 52 contestants and both the ladies proudly announced themselves to be "Miss North Carolina" in the introductions.

Just wondering - which "Miss North Carolina" do you think should keep the crown and compete in Miss America?

sororitygirl2 · #2 09-12-2002, 06:02 PM

Brief background, please!

texas*princess · #3 09-12-2002, 06:04 PM

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...ty-queen_x.htm

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge Thursday refused to force the Miss America Pageant to recognize Rebekah Revels as Miss North Carolina, the title she gave up over topless photos taken by a boyfriend. Immediately after the ruling, the Miss America Organization said it would instead recognize Misty Clymer as the only Miss North Carolina.

"Misty Clymer is the contestant. Rebekah will not be competing in the finals," said George Bauer, interim president of the Miss America Organization. "Rebekah will be our guest in Atlantic City. We'd like to continue her status as a VIP guest."

Revels has been participating in rehearsals and preliminary events along with Clymer, her successor as Miss North Carolina, under a temporary order issued by a state judge last week, while she pursued a federal judge's ruling compelling the pageant to let her compete for the crown.

U.S. District Judge James Fox refused to issue such an order. But he left it up to the Miss America organization whether to exclude her.

Bauer said he was happy that the judge "understood the Miss America Organization that well. We have very high standards of integrity, no reflection on Rebekah Revels at all. We try to attract the highest quality young women in the country."

Neither Revels nor Clymer could immediately be reached for comment. Revels was not taking calls in her Atlantic City hotel room. Clymer was with other pageant contestants practicing at Boardwalk Hall.

On Wednesday, Revels said she would be disappointed if Fox ruled against her, "but I've been prepared to pack up and leave since I arrived."

A new Miss America will be crowned on Sept. 21.

Revels resigned in July after a former boyfriend told pageant officials he had two topless snapshots of her. Clymer, 24, the first runner-up, then assumed the title of Miss North Carolina. But Revels later claimed she was unfairly forced to resign, and she went to court to reclaim the title.

The organizers of the North Carolina pageant contended that because of the pictures, Revels breached the morals clause in her contract.

Fox said that it was not clear whether Revels would prevail in her dispute. As a result, he said, he would not compel the pageant to include her as a contestant in the meantime.

"I'm disappointed," said Revels' lawyer, Barry Nakell. "He said it was a close call on the likelihood of success. I certainly respect his judgment, although I disagree with it."

The judge said that the case is about more than whether Revels or Clymer should be in the contest.

"The Miss America pageant over the years, by virtue largely of its contestants, has become a significant part of Americana. In a very real sense, Miss America represents America," he said.

"There is a public interest in seeing that that image is not tarnished because if it is tarnished there will be fewer contestants, there will be fewer scholarships, there will be fewer ideals to uphold. I don't think that's silly. We are a country that admires bravery, courage and integrity. We instill it in our youth."
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edited to include: The first Miss North Carolina claimed her ex-boyfriend took the photos while she was changing clothes and they were still dating. Apparently they had a bad break-up and her ex-boyfriend wanted to get back at her or something. That's why she felt she was "forced" to resign.

madmax · #4 09-12-2002, 06:08 PM

I think the new girl should get it. The other girl resigned. You can't unresign.

KillarneyRose · #5 09-12-2002, 06:16 PM

That ex boyfriend is a complete and utter PIG!

sororitygirl2 · #6 09-12-2002, 06:23 PM

I agree that the new girl should compete because Revels did resign. However, I think it is sort of sad that this issue ever came up because I bet a lot of other girls in the pageants have done similar things. I mean, really, I doubt that every pageant is a gathering of 50 virgins who visit confessional every day and never make mistakes... they're still human.

I know that they have to appear to be very moral and good to serve as role models for young women, but if the pageant association hadn't brought this out, no one would have ever known the better and Revels could have continued to be an effective role model.

edited to add:

But, I do wonder, do you think those pictures were really just snapped as she was changing clothes or do you think she actually posed? Hmmm...

texas*princess · #7 09-12-2002, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
That ex boyfriend is a complete and utter PIG!

My thoughts exactly. he must have been really mad or something to call up the Miss America people to let them know he had those snapshots.

AchtungBaby80 · #8 09-12-2002, 07:31 PM

The new one should compete. The old one resigned, and besides, didn't the Miss America people take away Vanessa Williams' crown for something along those lines that she did before the pageant? They can't throw the rules at one contestant and then look the other way for another. Besides, Miss America just doesn't pose topless--she's supposed to be sweet and wholesome!

sororitygirl2 · #9 09-12-2002, 09:05 PM

What Vanessa Williams did was VERY different, I believe. She actually posed for PUBLIC photos for Playboy or something. This girl just happened to have taken a couple snapshots with a boyfriend. What... can Miss America have no sex life at all? If it was kept private (the way anyone's sex life should be), then there would have been no problem at all.

Optimist Prime · #10 09-12-2002, 09:17 PM

you can't unresign but if it was a forced or coerced resignation

three2tango · #11 09-12-2002, 09:20 PM

I think the original girl should get to keep her crown and compete. She resigned probably due to pressure and unless the rules stated no personal nude photos of you and an ex lover.

As for Miss Vanessa, I just can't understand what she was thinking when she said, "Yes I will pose for Penthouse in an oral sex shot "

James · #12 09-12-2002, 09:42 PM

If she was forced to resign under duress she should be able to pursue damages against Ms. America Contest. I would be amused if she did it.

Any of our lawyers want to be a "talking head" and give us a comments?

I think she may have been a little too fair in her hearing. She should have it made it clear that she would have been forced to lose her crown and that is what the people said.

Quote:

Originally posted by three2tango
I think the original girl should get to keep her crown and compete. She resigned probably due to pressure and unless the rules stated no personal nude photos of you and an ex lover.

As for Miss Vanessa, I just can't understand what she was thinking when she said, "Yes I will pose for Penthouse in an oral sex shot "

LeslieAGD · #13 09-12-2002, 11:24 PM

The new contestant should continue.

Munchkin03 · #14 09-13-2002, 09:39 PM

This is a little different from the Vanessa Williams debacle. They sign an affadavit saying they haven't posed for any pictures that are "pornographic", or something like that. If my story's right, Ms. Williams posed for pictures for an photographer she was working for--they were intended to be taken behind a screen, but she thought they had been destroyed. It's not as if she willingly posed for Penthouse. I had to read an article about this, so don't think I follow Penthouse or anything. :P

The North Carolina thing violates the Miss America "chastity" policy on two fronts. One was that she was living with her boyfriend, which the Company prohibits. The other, the pictures, is really strange because no one saw them. It's not like they were out for others to see.

They forced her to resign, which just isn't right. I feel like the Miss America competition, scholarship program or not, is antiquated and more than just a little sexist. But, that's just me.

thesweetestone · #15 09-16-2002, 11:22 AM

I don't understand why being nude would cause a problem for the folks at the Miss America Pagent. Just a couple of years ago they said that they would allow women who had abortions and that had been divorce to enter this contest, so why should someone that was only naked with their boyfriend be asked to give up her title? I don't think it was fair at all.