A Wanganui teen beauty queen has been de-crowned for dyeing her hair.
Miss Teen Wanganui Olivia O'Neil, 15, won the title three months ago but handed back her crown last week after "being picked on" by pageant director Barbara Osborne, the Wanganui Chronicle reported.
Mrs Osborne left comments on a Facebook photo asking if Olivia's newly dyed dark brown hair was a wig.
The messages included: "Please tell me that's a wig" and "I hope it is, don't give me heart failure".
Olivia had replied, saying her hair was not a wig and if Mrs Osborne didn't like it, or didn't think it was "pageant worthy", then pageants might not be for her.
Mrs Osborne's reply was: "Hand over your crown with an attitude like that. I'm sure someone will step into your place with manners".
Mrs Osborne declined to speak to news media.
Pageant spokesman Jevan Goulter issued a statement saying Olivia had "exhibited unacceptable behaviour on social network sites [Facebook]".
"The organisation retains all rights to de-crown a current crown holder if the organisation feels that the crown holder is bringing the organisation into disrepute.
"This situation has arisen because it was quite clear that the former crown holder was not living up to these expectations."
He told the New Zealand Herald that changing her hair was the reason Olivia lost her crown.
"The expectation in holding the crown [was] that she maintain the image she had when she won it."
Mr Goulter said Mrs Osborne was no longer involved in the pageant, although her daughter, Chandra Osborne, was still a director.
NZPA