In a recent development that has caused uproar in the public, 2020’s Mrs World, Caroline Jurie, has stepped down from the title after an onstage clash with the Mrs Sri Lanka pageant winner, Da Silva.
Local reports have it that the Beauty Queen snatched the crown off her successor after announcing she was not qualified for the win because she was divorced.
In a televised event, Jurie said “As for the Mrs World competition, there is a rule that you have to be married and not divorced. So, I’m taking my first step saying that the crown goes to the first runner-up”.
It was gathered that Da Silva, who later received the crown, said in a Facebook post that being apart from her husband was different from being divorced. She dared anybody claiming she was divorced to produce her divorce script.
In view of the incident, police spokesman, Ajith Rohana, told the BBC that Jurie and model, Chula Padmendra, were arrested on “charges of simple hurt and criminal cause” related to the crowning ceremony incident.
Jurie, in a video posted on her Instagram account to address the issue, averred that the reason for her action was to push for a fair stage where rules and regulations were equal to all.
Harping on the purpose of the pageant, she quipped that even though the pageant was not to discriminate against divorced women or women separated from their husbands, the purpose was to “celebrate all women who are married and still strive to conquer that dream, along with the commitment and responsibilities of a married woman.”
In addition, she pledged that she would provide support to the new queen who would be competing at the 2021 Mrs World pageant, to ensure she can compete on a fair playing ground.
“I believe that if we have to lose something so that we can give another woman an opportunity to compete on a stage with a purpose that is equal and fair to all, then we must take a stand. I will always stand for fair and equal opportunity. I am now ready to hand over the crown,” she added.
