Panama won't be represented in Saturday's Miss Universe pageant after its representative was caught breaking the rules by sneaking into her boyfriend's hotel room; but she claims there's more to the story.
Italy Mora, 19, was found by Miss Universe officials in her boyfriend's hotel room in Mexico City last week, prompting an "exhaustive evaluation by [its] disciplinary commission" that led to Mora's removal from the competition, the New York Post reported.
The beauty queen claimed, however, that Miss Universe Panama Director César Anel Rodríguez asked to meet there to discuss finances with her boyfriend, Juan Abadía, who had covered all of Mora's pageant-related expenses, including lodging, makeup, and a $7,000 Carolina Herrera dress, according to the New York Post.
Rodríguez said he couldn't afford to reimburse Abadía before storming out of the room and leaving Mora behind to be found by pageant staff.
"They have every right to make thousands of speculations, because there were only the two of us and he couldn't be there," Mora told La Mordida. "What people don't know is that César stayed in that room."
Mora added that she took complete responsibility for her actions and accepted the consequences.
Meanwhile, Miss Universe officials said in a statement that they "made this decision with the utmost respect for all parties involved."
"Our No. 1 priority remains the welfare and transparency for all of our candidates, who exemplify diversity, talent and dedication," the statement concluded.
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