Original Miss N.C. Loses Tiara Tug of War

ByABC News via logo
September 9, 2002, 11:29 AM

Sept. 13 -- The North Carolina beauty queen who turned in her tiara over a topless photo scandal and then sought to reclaim her crown won't be allowed to compete in the Miss America pageant, organizers said Thursday.

The tiara tug of war between Rebekah Revels and Misty Clymer, who both claimed the title of Miss North Carolina, has been settled in favor of Clymer.

Both women joined ABCNEWS' Good Morning America Friday, saying they both supported one another, regardless of the outcome.

Meanwhile, after wishing Clymer the best of luck, Revels said she is still going forward with her lawsuit.

"We are still pursuing litigation and we still, yes, we do have a lawsuit against the Miss America organization, but I will continue to be Miss North Carolina," Revels said. "I was reinstated by the judge back in Raleigh [N.C.] and I look forward to carrying that year out," she said.

While Revels will get to serve as Miss North Carolina at home, Clymer will compete for the beauty queen top spot in Atlantic City, N.J."It's a bittersweet moment for me," Clymer said. "Of course, I was excited to be the sole representative of the North Carolina here but I was sad for Rebekah," she said.

Judge James Fox, sitting in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, N.C., earlier denied a motion that would have forced the Miss America Organization to recognize Revels, 24, as a contestant in its annual pageant. Fox said pageant officials could decide for themselves whether to include her in the competition, to be held Sept. 21 in Atlantic City, N.J.

Immediately after the ruling, the Miss America Organization said Clymer was the only Miss North Carolina.

"Misty Clymer is the contestant. Rebekah will not be competing in the finals," said George Bauer, interim president of the Miss America Organization.

However, Revels was still welcome to observe the contest, Bauer said.

"Rebekah will be our guest in Atlantic City," he said. "We'd like to continue her status as a VIP guest."