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 Pageant founder Choi Youn accused May Myat Noe of absconding
with the tiara, which media have said is worth $100,000 and
which she won in South Korea in May, becoming Myanmar's first
international beauty queen.
She was dethroned because she was ungrateful, untrustworthy and
had lied, the pageant organizers said in a statement reported by
Asian media.
"It is now a matter of national image and reputation and she
should be held accountable for (the tiara)," Choi told Reuters
in Seoul.
He said organizers planned to file a complaint with police.
May Myat Noe told a packed news conference on Tuesday in Yangon,
Myanmar's biggest city, that she was still queen when she
returned home with the tiara. It was only after arriving back
home that she received a letter informing her she had been
dethroned.
May Myat Noe added that she would give back the tiara only after
receiving an apology from organizers who she said had spread
lies about her that "damaged the integrity of my country".
"Once such remorse becomes apparent, I shall return the crown
willingly, without trace of reservation," she said.
May Myat Noe accused the pageant's organizers in Myanmar of
falsifying her age from 16 to 18. She said organizers in South
Korea attempted to coerce her into having breast augmentation
surgery, but she refused.
Among other allegations, May Myat Noe said organizers told her
she would need to "escort some business tycoons whenever they
require my company" in order to raise money to produce her music
album,Choi denied the allegations.
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“It is flat no," he said. "It is not true.”
Choi said the former beauty queen had chosen to undergo surgery in
Busan on Aug. 20 and was legally allowed to do so despite her age,
because her mother had consented.
He accused May Myat Noe of lying about her age on her application,
but said organizers allowed her to participate anyway once they
discovered she was actually 16.
Fans of the former beauty queen have posted messages of support on
her Facebook page.
"Sue them for defaming sis!" posted Vivienne Wang. "You are
naturally gorgeously beautiful! You do not need a single plastic
surgery whatsoever!"
"The truth is on your side," posted Lwan Chit Wai.
Some Facebook users were less supportive.
"Just return the tiara and stop all this nonsense in your life,"
posted Mi Mi Naing.
(Reporting by Aye Win Myint in YANGON and narae Kim in SEOUL.
Writing by Jared Ferrie; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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