Miss Teenager 2013 resigns for being bullied by pageant organizers

SOURCE: FACEBOOK

Jasmine Stringer, the reigning Miss Teenager Universe, has resigned because of bullying.

Organizers in Guatemala “bullied” her financially, she says.

Stringer had fullfilled all her commitments until Miss Teenager Australia organizers Mark Williams and Thelma Rodriguez decided not the hold their competition this year because they’ve moved from Australia to Miami for work.

International organizers then told Jasmine, who is 17, that she would have to find her own Australian contestant, pay their entry fee, and also pay her own way to Guatemala, where this year’s competition is to be held. That’s despite her contract including a return trip to the contest where she was to crown her successor.

“If you cannot follow he (sic) crown you must give the title to first runner up and in this way we will make a formal statement to publicise the news,” organizer Walter Guillen told her in an email

“If you want to follow with the title of Miss Teenager 2013 and come to Guatemala to deliver your crown and receive the second part of the award, you must pay $2000 USD to the organisation Miss Teenager Pageant.”

Jasmine says that she was supposed to get $4,000 in prize money but has only received $2,000.

“When I first entered the pageant, my main cause was to make a stand against Cyber bullying however, for the past 3 months I have been bullied by the Miss Teenager Universe organisation run by Toni Berganza in Guatemala who has sent me threats and ultimatums involving finances which as a 17 year old I do not have,” she said in a statement.

“I have represented as Miss Teenager Universe at an exceptional level expected of a beauty queen but unfortunately the organisation has not shown me any respect in return.

“Under the guidance of my former National Director Thelma Rodriguez, I have made the decision to resign from this role as I do not wish to be associated with an organisation that is so unprofessional and bullies their teenage queens.

“I would highly recommend that teenage girls from around the world do their own research before entering a contest.”

The Australian organizers issued a statement of support, saying that the “bullying” of her is “very unprofessional.”

“I had to put emotion and business into very different categories because they were trying to intertwine the two to get me to do what they wanted, which is morally so wrong,” Jasmine told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“Putting myself and my emotions aside, I would like the world to recognise that this is my way of encouraging teenagers to speak up if something’s not right and take a stand for what they believe in. “Beauty contests should not be focused on outer beauty alone, but more on using your title to make a difference.”

Jasmine is now modeling in Thailand.

SOURCE: Epochtimes.com, 5/28/2014