Miss Australia Universe keeps her crownBy Josephine Asher and Emily O'Keefe
Miss Universe Australia Rachael Finch is set to hold on to her crown, despite complaints she made about her pageant contract triggering a media scandal.
Miss Universe Australia director Deborah Miller today told ninemsn the Townsville beauty would not be sacked.
The surprise twist comes just a day after Ms Miller admitted to holding a secret meeting with competition runner-up Jade Russell.
A source close to Russell told ninemsn the Melbourne model was led to believe by Ms Miller that she would be given Finch's title.
But today Ms Miller said she did not know why Russell would have thought she would be given the crown.
"I have no idea why she would have thought that, I wouldn't say anything until it was official," Ms Miller said.
Ms Miller refused to say what was discussed at her meeting with Ms Russell, saying only that the runner-up "always needs to be ready to step in if needed".
The pageant director said Finch would be travelling to the Bahamas as scheduled in August to contest the title.
"Rachael still holds the title — there's no change, she's going to the Bahamas," she said.
Finch, who was crowned in April, spoke exclusively to Nine's TODAY this morning in response to a leaked email she sent to Miss Universe's American arm in which she describes her three-year contract as a "prison sentence".
"My main concern was that I was trapped into a three-year contract and basically I want to explore my options beyond Miss Universe Australia," she said. "I've had four years of international modelling experience."
Finch said she felt like her private diary had been published after the comments turned up in newspapers over the weekend but she said they had been "completely blown out of proportion".
"Everything has taken a direction in the way it shouldn't be taken and there are just some issues that needed to be sorted out from a business perspective… and they are being sorted out so there's nothing wrong at all," she said.
"I felt like I was being portrayed that I wasn't grateful or appreciative for what I have been given, but it's not like that at all."
Ms Finch admitted her Miss Universe Australia duties had been difficult recently while her mother has been recovering from an operation to remove a tumor.
"It's hard because to be the best person you can be — in my case, to be the best Miss Universe I can be, and having Mum sick," she said.
"I have to stay positive to keep her positive." Ninemsn, Australia, 17.06.09
More Beauty Pageant Drama!!!!
Miss Universe Australia winner Rachael Finch is amidst controversy after complaints she made about her contract with the pageant, which were leaked to the media.
In a letter sent to Miss Universe America, Rachael claims she was rushed into signing a three-year exclusive contract by Miss Universe Australia, which has become a "prison sentence".
"I had not slept in the last 24 hours, was about to speak to an international audience on television and was being told to 'hurry darl'," Finch said in the letter. "In my world, most nights I lay in bed for hours, crying, trying to come to terms with what I have to now deal with."
A little dramatic, but she is a beauty queeen!!
According to a pageant source, "Under the (Miss Universe Australia) contract, bringing the brand into disrepute is grounds for instant dismissal."
Less like a prison sentence and more like a gag order!!!!!!
Finch, who was crowned in April, has not commented publicly about her claims, but is devastated that they were leaked to the media.
Miss Universe Australia representatives claim that they did not the know the pageant winner was unhappy until being contacted from the media.
Of course they didn't!!
What was she supposed to say?!
The fate of her title is unknown.