Beauty pageant winner caught in ugly controversy

A newly crowned beauty queen in Fiji, who sparked outrage because of her mixed heritage, was asked to give up her title because of her age, not her race, according to pageant officials.

Torika Watters, 16, was chosen to represent Fiji in the Miss World contest last month. The pageant drew the likes of supermodel Rachel Hunter, who was a judge.

But after Watters won the title,  she faced heavy backlash because of her mixed European/Fijian descent, and some said she did not look Fijian enough.

Hundreds of derogatory comments had to be deleted from the Miss World Fiji Facebook page, according to reports.

Watters had to step down because she did not meet the minimum age requirement of 17, Miss World Fiji pageant director Andhy Blake told the Fiji Times. Koini Vakaloloma, 24, the first runner-up, will take her place in the finals in Inner Mongolia.                     Read Full