iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — There she goes, the former Miss Florida.
Less than a week into her reign, Elizabeth Fechtel’s crown was taken away but not because of anything she did. The pageant organization blamed the snafu on a tabulation error.
Apparently, a judge allegedly made a change on a score sheet that was not caught until the points for each contestant were later reviewed.
Now, first runner-up Victoria Cohen gets the crown and will compete in the Miss America pageant while Fechtel becomes a footnote.
According to beauty pageant coach Valerie Hayes, mistakes like this can cost more than a crown.
“You really need to pay attention, because it really does impact these girls’ self-esteem, their eligibility for scholarships, and sometimes their future career path,” Hayes said. “This is the worst nightmare in every pageant director’s life and it’s a lose-lose situation.”
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio
