Celebrity Justice
Miss Cali: Keep the Crown, I Want Cash!

Don't mess with a pissed-off beauty queen! The former, er, never was Miss California, Christina Silva, has filed suit against the pageant claiming a litany of damages.

In the suit, filed today in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Silva is seeking $500,000 in damages for "public humiliation, mental anguish and distress, lost opportunities, lost prizes and lost monies."

Silva was crowned Miss California on November 25, 2007. Three days later, she says, she was called for a meeting at the pageant director's home when they dropped a bomb -- there had been a mistake, she was not the winner, and they yanked her crown! Silva, who is of Ecuadoran and Mexican descent, claims that the pageant director never liked her and was looking for an "'all-American girl' to win, and not looking to crown another person of color." For the record, the f*** up has been blamed on human error.

The reigning Miss California, Raquel Beezley, is one-quarter Filipino. She's in Vegas now gearing up to compete for the title of Miss USA. The pageant airs on NBC tomorrow night.



Reader Comments

(Page 2 of 3) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. To be told you are a pageant winner and to have that title yanked away three days later would make anyone feel horrible, I think this was very poor manners on the part of the judges, However, for this lady to use her race as the reason this happened to her is stupid-assed. Ther have been many beauty pageant winners over the years from this state of many different nationalities.

Posted at 7:51PM on Apr 10th 2008 by joe

17. Sometimes when you get screwed you should get something even if the reason you got screwed isn't exactly what you think it is. She should get some sort of pay off. What if she did quit a job or make plans? If you leave the race card out, I think most people would agree she should get something.

Posted at 7:52PM on Apr 10th 2008 by Blissfull

18. A public that is tired of the Race Card is the reason why McCain will win in November.

There have been MANY women of color who have become Miss California as well as placing in the top two (First and Second Runner Up). I wonder if the pageant officials found some "pictures".

Posted at 7:56PM on Apr 10th 2008 by MSG

19. Deb, what did you say to make the girl so mad at us weekly?

Posted at 7:58PM on Apr 10th 2008 by Curiousity killed the cat

20. Look owd ! Da Donald vill sue her back ! He probably vanted dee utha voomun to vin !

Posted at 8:11PM on Apr 10th 2008 by Prince Von Ahnhult

21. SHE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO SUE, I HOPE SHE WINS A FORTUNE. YOU DON'T GIVE A PRIZE LIKE THAT, THEN TURN AROUND AND TAKE IT BACK. HOPE SHE GETS THE $500,000.00 AND MORE

Posted at 8:16PM on Apr 10th 2008 by Gail

22. SHE WENT TO THE PAGEANT DIRECTOR`S HOME TO " MEETING " AND DIDN`T SLEEP WITH THAT DIRECTOR , THAT`S WHY SHE LOST THE CROWN , THE " MEETING " WAS VERY IMPORTANT IF AT BEDROOM .

Posted at 8:48PM on Apr 10th 2008 by SLEPT THEN WIN

23. OK...It sucks that she was told she won and then found out she didn't....those pageant folks are idiots....but to sue for $500,000? Would she even have made that in the role of Miss California????!!! This country is sue happy.....stop being a cry baby and move on and use the experience to grow and do things with your life instead of asking for a hand-out! BTW...considering that the actual winner is part Filipino I doubt race had anything to do with it.....grasping a straws if you ask me

Posted at 8:49PM on Apr 10th 2008 by BYEFELISHA

24. The comment by #16 ".....There have been other black Miss Californias. Im sick of hearing blacks and others whine over their race....". The article states that Ms. Silva is of Ecuadoran and Mexican descent - therefore NOT black. LOL!!!!

Posted at 8:54PM on Apr 10th 2008 by BH

25. she is oly one-quater filipino thats nothing.why dont show a picture of her shes white

Posted at 8:55PM on Apr 11th 2008 by pamela

26. Ohhhhhh, one-quarter Filipino what a minority! She has every right to sue. To be humiliated in front of thousands is way out of line. Yes people make mistakes but obviously there is something more here.

Posted at 3:19PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Jenn

27. I remember this story when it happened. They read the scores backwards; she was really like 4th runner up. They should have let her keep the prizes and awarded the title to the real winner. It’s easy to say “let her keep the title”, but then how do you think the real winner should feel if she lost because some idiot reversed the order of the winners?


Posted at 10:12PM on Apr 10th 2008 by jmo

28. If anyone would have come and tried to take my crown back, they would of had to cut my arms off to get it! :P

Posted at 10:11PM on Apr 10th 2008 by Kelli

29. geez...I have to go out in the rain that came from Texas tomorrow to do things!!!..opps sorry for straying!

Posted at 10:20PM on Apr 10th 2008 by all I know !!

30. Sue Them!!!! How the H*** did they make that mistake? They should PAY for that mistake! Although, I don't think it was a "race" issue....but an unforgivable mistake! They are lying!

Posted at 10:27PM on Apr 10th 2008 by TenderTee2

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