Pageant Leader Loses Crown Over Penalty
Questionable point deductions cost Miss La Mesa the crown in San Diego County’s “Fairest of the Fair” pageant, organizers said.
Pageant officials and directors of the San Diego County Fair acknowledged Tuesday that Troy Lemperle, who represented La Mesa in the May 16 competition, was awarded the most points by judges but didn’t win because she was penalized for missing part of a pageant rehearsal.
The title, which comes with $7,000 in scholarship and spending money and allows the recipient to represent the county in the Miss California pageant, was awarded to Raquel Rusing of Carlsbad.
Lemperle, a 22-year-old senior at San Diego State University, said a job commitment made her unable to attend the practice.
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