Kristhielee Caride, Miss Puerto Rico 2016 has lost out on her $3 Million earnings and her crown after a judge threw out the lawsuit she filed for an alleged breach of contract and contractual damages.
The beauty queen asked to regain her title and to receive all of the prizes that she won. She also asked for $3 million damages.
According to Desiree Lowry, the national director of Miss Universe Puerto Rico, Caride got pregnant during her reign, was non-cooperative with reporters and did not use the salon that was provided instead preferred to use her own stylists which led the organizers to dethrone her and crown Brenda Jimenez, the pageant’s first runner-up as Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2016.
Judge Eduardo Rebollo stated in his ruling that Caride’s behavior violated the terms of her contract with PR Crown Entertainment. “Her dismissal was justified and does not merit the restitution of her title as Miss Puerto Rico in the international beauty pageant of Miss Universe,” Rebollo said, according to Telemundo.
Brenda Jimenez, the pageant’s first runner-up, replaced the 25-year-old and became Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2016.
Although pageant drama isn’t rare, it was the first time that a contestant had lost her crown in the history of the island. Miss Puerto Rico 1994, Brenda Robles, was dismissed during her reign because she was pregnant.
Caride’s lawyer commented on the ruling saying, “This wasn’t a surprise for me, rights and justice don’t always prevail in a trial. From my point of view, I am not surprised by Rebollo’s decision. It is an erroneous, wrong decision.”