Caitlin Cifuentes is shown here in a screenshot from Facebook.(Photo: Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller-Times)
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Miss Corpus Christi Latina Caitlin Cifuentes<span style="color: Red;">*</span>
will have to return her crown.
"The Organization of Miss America Latina, Inc ... will NOT honor Ms. Cifuentes' application as a candidate for our National Pageant," according to a news release from Acirema Alayeto, the national organization's president and founder. "In addition, (the organization) does not recognize Caitlin Cifuentes as the winner of the Miss Corpus Christi Latina Pageant held on June 11, 2016. Cifuentes does not have the proper credentials to hold such a title."
The first runner up, Valeria Barrera, will claim the title, according to the news release.
Cifuentes, 25, was crowned June 11 despite having a criminal record and previous marriage, which should have disqualified her, according to a lawsuit six pageant contestants filed against the local contest's director, last month. Barrera is one of the women suing.
USA TODAY
Runners-up sue pageant over divorced winner
The lawsuit states the director, Kayla Alvarez, should not have allowed Cifuentes to compete and seeks $100,000. Alvarez told the
Caller-Times in June she stood by Cifuentes.
"Just because you have a bad background ... doesn't mean that should hold you back from accomplishing your goals, " Alvarez said. "She's worked very hard, and the judges saw that, and she won fair and square."
Cifuentes has not responded to attempts to reach her.
Cifuentes is currently on deferred adjudicated probation for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and probation for a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated case, according to online Nueces County court records. In a Facebook post celebrating her victory, she acknowledged the controversy surrounding her win, saying she worked hard and earned the crown. She is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
The national organization stated in the release that it stands by its motto, "More than a model ... a role model."
Follow Krista M. Torralva on<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Twitter: @CallerKMT
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