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Miss NZ must get citizenship by August

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Miss NZ must get citizenship by August

3News NZ

Avianca Bohm, second from left, was crowned Miss New Zealand earlier this month (file pic)

Avianca Bohm, second from left, was crowned Miss New Zealand earlier this month (file pic)

The Miss Universe NZ row looks set to drag on after this year's winner was given until August to get New Zealand citizenship in order to retain her tiara.

South African-born Avianca Bohm, 22, was crowned in a ceremony earlier this month and there has been tension between her and pageant organiser Val Lott since.

"She should have humbly stood down like I told her to," Ms Lott told NZ Newswire today.

Ms Lott claims both the judges and Miss Bohm knew she could not win the pageant because she was not a New Zealand citizen. She was allowed to enter so she could practise being in a pageant.

But Miss Bohm says this wasn't the case and has refused to step down, even seeking legal advice.

The decision was put in the hands of the international Miss Universe organisation which this week allowed Miss Bohm to retain the title.

However, if she does not get New Zealand citizenship by August 1 she will be stripped of the tiara and will not be eligible to represent New Zealand at the Miss Universe 2012 competition.

Runner-up Talia Bennett would then be crowned.

When asked whether she was happy about the decision, Ms Lott said "no", adding: "but we must remain professional and dignified".

"This isn't over, this is going to drag on until August, so nothing is really resolved at all."

NZN

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Comments

13/07/2012 11:58:55 p.m.

SHERNI wrote:

She is not even a NZ Citizen, why apply for it now. Doesn't makes sense. Didn't the judges see her application details about her before enrolling, admitting this thing from Sth Africa. Its not fair on other gorgeous girls who has entered. Not fair at all. They have the first chance than this. She should have applied for all this before entering. NO SHE IS CERTANLY NOT A KIWI, NO WAY ... SHE ISN'T ALLOWED TO ENTER - PERIOD. Sorry buts the that life.

29/06/2012 5:11:17 p.m.

kelvyn wrote:

If she could not win because she is not a NZ citizen, what is there to step down from. You cannot claim something you are not entitled to, just as the judges could not vote her winner (because she was not eligible) The judges made a mistake, yes, but that does not make her eligible as a non NZ citizen. Sounds to me that the organisers are muddlers and weak and flake. This matter should be cleared up in the time it takes to read (or not) your citizenship papers.