Fiji's first Miss Universe beauty pageant in more than 40 years has been "tainted" by ugly accusations, a New Zealand judge at the contest says. Manshika Prasad, a 24-year-old MBA student, was adorned with her tiara and winner's sash on stage at Fiji's Pearl Resort and Spa last week. Days later, after she had celebrated winning the chance to represent Fiji at the international beauty pageant in Mexico in November, everything changed.
Over the weekend, a press release from Miss Universe Fiji claimed that "correct procedures" had not been followed and Prasad's title was given to runner-up Nadine Roberts, a 30-year-old model and property developer from Sydney whose mother is Fijian. Marine biologist Melissa White had flown over from New Zealand to represent an environmental charity as a judge at the event. She told RNZ's Midday Report on Monday that the days following the win had taken away from what should have been a historic event for Fiji.
"This whole thing is tainted. "When the votes were counted on the night of the event, it was four to three. So Mansheka Prasad had the four votes to the three and was given the crown as the clear winner," White said.
"Two days later we were told that the crown had been taken from her and that all of a sudden there was an eighth judge who was the licensee of the holder for the Miss Universe Fiji." The controversy about the winner centres around this extra eighth vote, with vote-rigging allegations flying. "That was all very strange, to all .