LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23 -- Miss Universe pageant officials have "fired" the reigning Miss Universe, Russia's Oxana Fedorova, and will replace her with Miss Panama, the runner-up, a spokeswoman for the pageant said today.
Organizers of the pageant, which is co-owned by New York real estate mogul Donald Trump, scheduled a news conference for Tuesday in that city to announce the switch.
The spokeswoman declined to elaborate on the reasons for the change but a source close to the matter said that the green-eyed Fedorova had failed to carry out the responsibilities of Miss Universe.
"Basically, she was fired for not fulfilling her duties," the source said. "It's just like if you have a job to do. If you don't do your job you can get fired."
The raven-haired Fedorova, a postgraduate student who was chosen over 74 other candidates at the pageant in May, has returned to Russia and will be replaced by "crowd favorite" Justine Pasek of Panama, the spokeswoman said.
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It was the first time in the pageant's 52-year history that a Miss Universe has been stripped of her title, and Fedorova had been the first Miss Russia to win the crown.
Share this articleShareThe source close to the matter declined to comment on a report in the New York Post newspaper that officials were concerned that Fedorova might have "secretly" married her boyfriend, in violation of pageant rules, and could even be pregnant.
The Post reported that Fedorova was expected to travel extensively and make personal appearances as part of her reign but refused to take part in a number of those assignments, including the 2002 Miss Teen USA Competition.
Fedorova won a year's salary, a wardrobe allowance, use of a New York apartment and travel and public engagements around the world that include fund-raising for AIDS research.
Uneasy lies the tiara: Miss Universe, Oxana Fedorova, has been fired.
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