Miss New Zealand Avianca Bohm Could Lose Crown Over Citizenship Issue

Miss New Zealand 2012

Miss New Zealand Avianca Bohm may be stripped of her title as she is not a New Zealander.

Bohm, who was born in South Africa, moved to New Zealand when she was 16 years old, only speaking Afrikaans.

The pageant's rules stipulate that entrants must hold New Zealand residency and citizenship. Apparently, Bohm does not have her citizenship yet.

Bohn is reportedly now working for her citizenship to be fast-tracked so that she could still compete in Miss Universe later this year.

Bohm's citizenship issue was not hidden in the competition at all. Pageant director Val Lott said she allowed the 22-year-old to join the competition as it would boost her confidence. But Lott said he told the judges not to let Bohm win the title because of the issue.

"It's not embarrassing for the competition. It's embarrassing for the [chief] judge, who should have taken on board what I said to him," Lott told the New Zealand Herald.

He added: "[Bohm] and I both had a clear understanding that she could not win. I said, you can enter it because it will still be confidence-boosting and great for your area to represent Howick."

Representing Howick, Bohm was crowned in a ceremony on Saturday night in Wellington.

Miss USA 2012: Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island Wins After Answering Transgender Question

Miss USA 2012 Winner

Miss Rhode Island Olivia Culpo was crowned Miss USA 2012 on Sunday, besting 50 other lovely candidates of the prestigious beauty pageant.

During the make-or-break interview round of the final five, the 20-year old Boston University sophomore won over the judges with her answer when asked about whether "it would be fair that a transgender woman wins the Miss USA title over a natural-born woman."

She responded, "I do think that that would be fair, but I can understand that people would be a little apprehensive to take that road because there is a tradition of natural-born women, but today where there are so many surgeries and so many people out there who have a need to change for a happier life, I do accept that because I believe it’s a free country."

Culpo, who describes herself as a "nerd", is set to take a break from her studies for a year to tackle her duties as Miss USA and prepare for the 61st Miss Universe pageant this coming December.

Rounding out the 2012 Miss USA top five contestants were first runner-up Nana Meriwether of Maryland, second runner-up Audrey Bolte of Ohio, third runner-up Jade Kelsall of Nevada and fourth runner-up Jasmyn Wilkins of Georgia.