Vandal Scandal Mars Another Pageant

Florida beauty queen overcomes mystery dress mess to win
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 22, 2008 8:50 AM CST
Vandal Scandal Mars Another Pageant
Miss America pageant contestants share the stage at the Miss America pageant at the Aladdin hotel-casino in Las Vegas. Jessica Wittenbrink of Florida now has a chance of winning Miss Florida after emerging victorious from the Miss South Florida Fair contest despite a vandalized dress (AP Photo/Jae...   (Associated Press)

The crime wave besetting American beauty pageants continued this weekend as Miss South Florida Fair had to overcome some skullduggery before claiming her crown, the Palm Beach Post reports. Cops were called after contestant Jessica Wittenbrink  found her ruined dress backstage, vandalized with four red lipstick streaks. Police quizzed her 13 rivals but couldn't come up with a suspect.

The victorious Wittenbrink now has a shot at becoming Miss Florida, and eventually Miss America. And although the fair's president said he was "fairly comfortable" it was an inside job, the identity of the lipstick-wielding culprit may never be known. "Unless new information presents itself, the case is going to be inactive," said a sheriff's office spokesman. (More beauty pageant stories.)

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