Beauty Pageant Cuts Plastic Surgeon Post

Before it even started, Dr. Stephen P. Grifka’s proposed role as “official facial plastic surgery consultant” to the Miss San Diego contest has been severed amid strong criticism from the head of the Miss California Pageant, which oversees the contest.

The Culver City-based physician was appointed to the unpaid position in January by Dayna Waitley, executive director of the Miss San Diego Pageant, on the recommendation of mutual friends. However, Waitley now says the appointment was never approved by the pageant’s board of directors and Grifka’s consulting position is, thus, invalid. The doctor was notified by phone and in writing Thursday, Waitley said.

“The only comment I can make is that I did not seek prior approval (of the appointment) with my board of directors and, because of that, the association with him was invalid,” she said Monday. “I think I personally used poor judgment in seeking the position. Never, under any circumstances, would I recommend that a pageant contestant seek plastic surgery.”

Waitley would not comment on why she decided to appoint a plastic surgeon in the first place. But she did say that a plastic surgeon will not be part of next year’s pageant.

Grifka, 30, could not be reached for comment.

Waitley told The Times last week that Grifka was supposed to serve as an adviser and possible financial sponsor beginning with next year’s pageant. The agreement with Grifka, who specializes in nose surgery, face lifts, chemical skin peels and scar removal, called for him to advise contestants on ways to “enhance” their physical appearance.

The agreement, however, drew sharp criticism from organizers of the Miss America Pageant, the parent organization that oversees the local events, and officials of the Miss California Pageant. Leonard C. Horn, chief executive officer of the Miss America Pageant, last week mocked the plastic surgeon idea, calling it “crazy” and “laughable.”

“We cannot and will not get into the business of recommending plastic surgery to our contestants,” said Robert Arnhym, chief executive officer of the Miss California Pageant. “There have been some real horror stories with regard to constructive surgery. We are more interested in a natural, wholesome Miss America.”

Arnhym said he was “very pleased” with the decision to sever ties with Grifka. Arnhym insisted that having a plastic surgeon as a consultant to the beauty contest is “inappropriate” and said he expressed his displeasure with the idea to Waitley last week.

“It’s sort of over before it even started,” he said of Grifka’s appointment.

Grifka told The Times last week that cosmetic surgery is a legitimate option for beauty pageant contestants. “This is a competition,” he said. Grifka told The Times he had ultimately hoped to hook up with the larger pageants such as Miss America.

Pageant rules permit plastic surgery although organizers of the event say they do not advocate it. In fact, it has been reported that 1982 winner Debra Sue Maffett had extensive cosmetic surgery.

The idea for the plastic surgeon position, Waitley said, came after the mother of a contestant inquired about cosmetic surgery. “If somebody came to me, I would rather recommend somebody with credentials instead of sending them to the Yellow Pages,” Waitley said.

Waitley said she was “surprised” that Grifka mailed out press releases announcing his appointment without consulting her.

Waitley, a former Miss San Diego, informed Grifka by telephone of the decision to rescind their agreement.

“He was sorry that the whole thing has been blown out of proportion,” she said.