Latest update on the drama of Ris Low
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1009529/1/.html#
SINGAPORE: She may be the prime candidate to replace
dethroned beauty queen Ris Low, but unless she is threatened with a
lawsuit by the contest organisers, Ms Claire Lee, the first
runner-up in this year's beleaguered Miss Singapore-World contest,
will not represent Singapore at the Miss World finals.
This, after the pageant-pals-turned-foes had a public spat over how
the media had sniffed out 19-year-old Miss Low's conviction for
credit card fraud in May this year.
The latter had claimed that Ms Lee, 23, had told on her, and had
faked a back injury to "save face" in case she was not selected as
the replacement.
Choking back sobs as she revealed her decision to MediaCorp over
the phone yesterday, Ms Lee said: "I'm being accused of things I
didn't do. People now think I did it to take the title, but that's
not true ... I don't want to be involved anymore."
Asked about her contractual obligations, Ms Lee said: "I don't
intend to represent Singapore unless ERM threatens to sue
me."
The Nanyang Technological University aerospace engineering graduate
said she has not informed pageant organisers ERM World Marketing
about her decision.
When contacted yesterday, ERM events director Tracy Lee declined to
comment on the status of the selection for Ms Low's replacement or
on Ms Lee's decision, and only said that an announcement would be
made when the company is "ready".
ERM had earlier said in a press statement that it will hold
interviews to determine the new representative - although other
pageant organisers say it is industry practice for the first
runner-up to assume the title in an event where the winner is
unable to represent the country.
MediaCorp understands the finalist has to leave Nov 15 for the
finals in South Africa.
With the pageant's top two out of the running, whether Singapore
will have a representative this year is anybody's guess given that
one month may be too short a period for a contestant to prepare
adequately.
As for second runner-up, Ms Pilar Arlando, 19, she did not respond
to phone calls yesterday, while the other two women in the Top
Five, Ms Sonia Sawlani, 23, and Ms Oxy Ong, 20, confirmed they have
not been called up for interviews yet.
When told of Ms Lee's pulling out yesterday, her erstwhile friend
Ms Low said: "I don't care and I have nothing to say."
"I'll be graduating in January, then I'll take some time to enjoy
life ... Two years later, hopefully Singapore will forget all this
and I can step on the stage again. I like to be a shining star, the
centre of attraction."
