Dethroned Miss Corpus Christi Latina: First Runner-Up Shouldn’t Have Crown

Contributed photo/Jerrell Trulove Caitlyn Cifuentes

The former Miss Corpus Christi Latina winner who national officials disqualified based on her criminal record is trying to give her crown to the woman who came in third place.
But the national pageant president said Caitlin Cifuentes can't do that and the organization already named the first runner up Miss Corpus Christi Latina.

"The title belongs to the organization and (Cifuentes) doesn't have authority to pick and choose who she gives it to," president and founder Acirema Alayeto told the Caller-Times.

Cifuentes took to Facebook on Thursday to announce her plans of giving the crown to second runner-up Marissa Ortiz. On Tuesday, Organization of Miss America Latina Inc. officials announced it would not recognize Cifuentes as the winner and gave the title to Valeria Barrera. Barrera is one of six contestants who filed a lawsuit against local pageant director Kayla Alvarez for allowing Cifuentes to compete. Alayeto told Barrera on Friday that the organization was sending her a new crown and sash and would arrange a crowning ceremony.

"I am renouncing my crown to the SECOND runner up ... My reasoning is this, the first runner up cannot represent a pageant that she is suing. The second runner up is not involved and THAT is who I am passing the crown to. With love, The Queen of C.C.," Cifuentes posted.

However, Cifuentes, who won the June 11 pageant, told the Caller-Times she hadn't yet told Ortiz or Alayeto about her intentions.

Alayeto said she hasn't seen a situation like this.

"It's ludicrous. I have never in my 30 plus years in the pageant industry heard a comment like that," Alayeto said.

Alayeto said officials told the local director it's her duty to tell Cifuentes to return the crown and sash and to crown Barrera.

"As far as I know that has not happened," Alayeto said.

Alvarez, the local pageant director, did not immediately return calls Friday seeking comment.

Pageant rules state contestants may not have criminal charges pending against them at the time of the contest. Cifuentes is on deferred adjudicated probation for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and probation for a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated case, according to court records. If she successfully completes the terms of her probation, she will avoid a conviction. However, if she violates the terms, her probation can be revoked and she can be convicted.

Source: Caller.com, 7/15/2016