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.