Dethroned Miss Florida USA sues pageant for defamation

MIAMI (AP) – A former Miss Florida USA winner is suing the pageant after organizers took her crown and accused her of cheating.

The Miami Herald reports that attorneys for 24-year-old Genesis Davila filed the suit Monday, asking a Miami-Dade circuit judge to issue an emergency injunction restoring her title. The suit also seeks $15 million for defamation.

Davila was crowned July 16 in Fort Lauderdale and then dethroned six days later. Pageant director Grant Gravitt Jr. cited an Instagram post showing Davila getting professional hair and makeup help, a violation of pageant rules.

Davila’s lawyer, Richard Wolfe, presented an enlarged photo of the post during a Monday news conference. It showed the photo was dated more than a week before the contest.

Miss Florida USA released a statement saying they couldn’t comment on pending litigation.

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