An accounting mix-up led to the wrong woman being crowned Miss California USA, and she’s relinquished her crown to the rightful winner, organizers said Monday.
Christina Silva, 24, was declared the winner of the annual state beauty pageant, but she gave up the title to Raquel Beezley, who was originally named the second runner-up. Beezely, 21, will represent the state at the Miss USA pageant next April.
The pageant’s state director, Keith Lewis, said several judges questioned the results of the November 25 competition at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. Lewis said the error was discovered the next day after the ballots were opened and recounted.
“It was a simple human error,” Lewis said.
Silva has hired an attorney and is weighing her legal options, according to her manager, Tony Brewster.