Controversy and conflict erupted at a Miss Independence coronation ceremony in San Jose Succotz on Independence Day, and the event went viral this week, as the crowning of a beauty queen was marred by a peeved Queen Designate, who rejected the proposal to wear a red dress provided by the pageant’s organizers.
Yancy Bautista, 17, was actually the duly selected queen for the Independence Day gala which was held in the village; however, the victorious queen reportedly asserted that she was not given any funding to acquire a coronation dress for her crowning, which was to be held on Independence Day evening.
Apparently, the queen normally wears a white dress, and, according to Bautista, not only had she been given a red dress, but she reportedly claimed that the dress was second-hand — bought from the market. The queen said that she felt that politics was involved in the process.
In protest, Bautista reportedly showed up at the ceremony dressed in casual wear and chose not to participate. Despite not being attired for the event, she told the gathering that she was thankful to all who supported her in winning the pageant, but objected to wear what she reportedly described as “an inferior dress”.
After she conveyed her discontent, the organizers of the pageant then reportedly proceeded to crown the first runner-up as the queen, to Bautista’s ire.
Things really got frenzied when Bautista took matters into her own hands by yanking the crown from the head of the newly appointed queen, destroying the crown in the process. She was then detained by police officers who were present at the festivities.
In an interview on 7 News, Bautista reportedly uttered that she felt no regret for what she did, as she enjoys the overwhelming support of the village.
It’s a daring move, and could have resulted in charges being levied against Bautista; nevertheless, O.C. Benque Viejo police, ASP Dinsdale Thompson, convened a meeting two days after the incident to have the opposing sides iron out their differences.
In the meeting were Bautista, referred to as Queen A; the runner-up, referred to as Queen B, and the Succotz village chairman.
According to ASP Thompson, “Queen A” made an apology, and the other parties agreed not to press charges.