Will Megan Young face disqualification?
As the world awaits the new Miss World in the next 24 hours, an article from the International Business Times raised a question on whether the organizers should disqualify Megan Young after the Filipina bet’s topless photos for a men’s magazine resurfaced.
Rogue Magazine’s March 2012 issue captured a topless Megan posing by the shore. This was the same photo spread that prompted the Fil-Am actress’ disqualification from this year’s Binibining Pilipinas.
A user of the said UK-based news website cited Megan’s photos and pointed out Miss World’s policies regarding its contestants’ behavior.
“Rules are rules when it comes to the Miss World beauty contest it seems that contestants’ taking their clothes off is a clear breach of the laws,” an anonymous IBTimes UK reader was quoted as saying. “A beauty queen is somebody that is a good role model inside and out and obviously is a beautiful person.”
Also read: Megan Young is one step closer to Miss World Top 5
‘Smear campaign’
Miss World Philippines franchise holder Cory Quirino, meanwhile, was quick to dismiss Megan’s possible disqualification to the global pageant, and raised concerns over a smear campaign.
“There has been a smear campaign by a negligible sector of the Philippine pageant industry to destroy Megan’s chances for a win in Miss World,” Quirino said in a statement.
She added, “In Bali, the mood and aura around Megan is positive and promising. I believe Mrs. Julia Morley has explicitly answered this one relentless Anti-Miss World Philippines person or group to stop emailing the Miss World office as they are proud of all the candidates, including Megan.”
Quirino called on Filipinos to stand united in cheering for the actress who shall be pitted against 126 beauties from around the globe during the coronation night Saturday, September 28. It will be aired on the same day, 10:30 p.m. over GMA 7.
Slideshow: Megan Young's road to Miss World 2013
“My request to all our countrymen is to consider the honor the Miss World crown would bring to the country [if Megan Young wins]. Let’s join hands now to prove that the Bayanihan spirit is strong, alive and above all, genuine.”
The international Miss World organizers have yet to react on this latest controversy. Early on, the pageant faced strong criticisms among conservative Indonesian groups after it announced that the pageant be held in the said Muslim country.
The organizers tried to appease the said groups by scrapping the traditional two-piece swimsuit competition and introducing a one-piece bikini covered with the traditional sarong.
