June 26, 2006
THE Miss Universe Australia pageant said nothing would stop this year's winner, Erin McNaught, from contesting the main title – not even topless photographs splashed across the cover of a men's magazine.
Ms McNaught, a Brisbane model and science student, was crowned Miss Universe Australia two weeks ago and has her plane ticket booked for the finals in Los Angeles on July 23.But pictures of the beauty wearing only her undies and a cowboy hat, published on the cover of last week's Zoo Weekly, have landed her in hot water with pageant officials, according to media reports.
Today, Jim Davie, the national director and licensee of the Miss Universe Australia competition, said there was "nothing in that magazine that demeans the Miss Universe pageant".
Ms McNaught would not be stripped of her title, he said.
"She's not representing Afghanistan," Mr Davie pointed out.
"All models have done some shots with their breasts shown. This is 2006.
"Every second girl on the beach in summer bathes topless."
Mr Davie said he had first heard about the photographs when he was signing Ms McNaught's contract.
"Her mother mentioned that she had been in some photos in which she was semi-topless," he said, adding he later cast his eyes across the shots.
"I really didn't think it was going to be a concern."
Mr Davie said some of the criticism had come from people associated with the pageant who were not officials but had been "judges on the night".
"And, I'm not going to sacrifice Erin for people who have egos and things they want to achieve," he said.
"My decision is very clear – Erin is going to represent us."
He said that as the national director of the competition, he was the only person with the authority to strip Ms McNaught of her title, and the only way he could be overridden was if officials in New York gave him instructions.
"But I don't believe that's going to happen," Mr Davie said.
He described Ms McNaught, who won the Miss Universe Australia pageant by the biggest margin of votes in 15 years, as an "exceptionally nice girl".
"She'll be a great ambassador for us," Mr Davie said.
"She's as nice as Jennifer Hawkins."
Newcastle-born Ms Hawkins, a former model and cheerleader, was named Miss Universe in 2004. A year later she handed the crown over to Miss Canada, Natalie Glebova.
Zoo Weekly editor Paul Merrill said the magazine stood by the photos and its model, saying it was "right behind" Ms McNaught's quest to become Miss Universe.
"Erin deserves to be Miss Australia because she's the prettiest girl we have," he said in a statement.
"It would be criminal if meddling killjoys took her title away."
TKPN
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