Daily Beaner
2016-08-10 22:34:16 UTC
A Texas beauty queen lost her title after controversy erupted
when it was found out that the brunette beauty has a criminal
record.
Caitlin Cifuentes, winner of the first-ever Miss Corpus Christi
Latina, was stripped of her crown this week after it was
discovered that is currently under "deferred adjudicated
probation" basically meaning she pleaded "guilty" or "no
contest" to charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
and driving while intoxicated.
While the pageants local director, Kayla Alvarez, let Cifuentes
take part in the June 11 competition despite being ineligible
because of the pending criminal charges her victory drew
backlash from fellow contestants and an admonition from
officials at the Organization of Miss America Latina, Inc.
Six contestants filed a lawsuit claiming that Alvarez allowed
Cifuentes to participate despite her record. They seek $100,000.
"Kayla Alvarez willfully and knowingly violated countless terms
of the contractual agreement by allowing Caitlin Cifuentes to
participate in and ultimately win the pageant," the lawsuit
states.
Alvarez, who is in her first year as the pageant director,
defended the pageants decision involving Cifuentes.
"Just because you have a bad background ... doesn't mean that
should hold you back from accomplishing your goals," Alvarez
told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. "She's worked very hard
and the judges saw that and she won fair and square."
Despite Alvarezs defense, Acirema Alayeto - the founder and
president of the Organization of Miss America Latina, Inc.
said that Cifuentes should have been removed from the
competition weeks ago, especially because part of her probation
stipulates that she isn't allowed to leave the county to further
compete without explicit permission.
"The Organization of Miss America Latina, Inc ... will NOT honor
Ms. Cifuentes' application as a candidate for our National
Pageant," according to a news release from Alayeto. "In
addition, (the organization) does not recognize Caitlin
Cifuentes as the winner of the Miss Corpus Christi Latina
Pageant held on June 11, 2016. Cifuentes does not have the
proper credentials to hold such a title."
The newly named Miss Corpus Christi Latin runner-up Valeria
Barrera is one of the women suing Alvarez.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2016/07/13/texas-
beauty-queen-loses-title-over-aggravated-assault-and-dui-charges/
when it was found out that the brunette beauty has a criminal
record.
Caitlin Cifuentes, winner of the first-ever Miss Corpus Christi
Latina, was stripped of her crown this week after it was
discovered that is currently under "deferred adjudicated
probation" basically meaning she pleaded "guilty" or "no
contest" to charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
and driving while intoxicated.
While the pageants local director, Kayla Alvarez, let Cifuentes
take part in the June 11 competition despite being ineligible
because of the pending criminal charges her victory drew
backlash from fellow contestants and an admonition from
officials at the Organization of Miss America Latina, Inc.
Six contestants filed a lawsuit claiming that Alvarez allowed
Cifuentes to participate despite her record. They seek $100,000.
"Kayla Alvarez willfully and knowingly violated countless terms
of the contractual agreement by allowing Caitlin Cifuentes to
participate in and ultimately win the pageant," the lawsuit
states.
Alvarez, who is in her first year as the pageant director,
defended the pageants decision involving Cifuentes.
"Just because you have a bad background ... doesn't mean that
should hold you back from accomplishing your goals," Alvarez
told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. "She's worked very hard
and the judges saw that and she won fair and square."
Despite Alvarezs defense, Acirema Alayeto - the founder and
president of the Organization of Miss America Latina, Inc.
said that Cifuentes should have been removed from the
competition weeks ago, especially because part of her probation
stipulates that she isn't allowed to leave the county to further
compete without explicit permission.
"The Organization of Miss America Latina, Inc ... will NOT honor
Ms. Cifuentes' application as a candidate for our National
Pageant," according to a news release from Alayeto. "In
addition, (the organization) does not recognize Caitlin
Cifuentes as the winner of the Miss Corpus Christi Latina
Pageant held on June 11, 2016. Cifuentes does not have the
proper credentials to hold such a title."
The newly named Miss Corpus Christi Latin runner-up Valeria
Barrera is one of the women suing Alvarez.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2016/07/13/texas-
beauty-queen-loses-title-over-aggravated-assault-and-dui-charges/