Size Two Beauty Queen Accused of Eating Too Many Tacos

March 18, 2011 — -- The former Miss San Antonio, 17-year-old Domonique Ramirez, was stripped of her crown after being told she needed to lose weight.

After becoming a beauty queen, Domonique found out the ugly truth when a pageant official told her she needed to "drop 13 pounds" at a bikini photo shoot.

"She told me I need to drop 13 pounds and I needed to lay off the tacos," said Domonique.

Shortly after, Ramirez was stripped of her sash and her tiara was taken. There was a quick coronation for her runner up, Ashley Dixon.

But the former queen didn't leave quietly. Domonique sued the pageant.

This week, Linda Woods, the president of the Miss Bexar County organization that runs the Miss San Antonio pageant, testified in court.

Woods testified that the bikini photos were "unusable" and even airbrushing couldn't help.

"Domonique is not fat by any stretch of the imagination. She's a beautiful girl. But she wasn't ready for Miss Texas," said Woods.

The former Miss San Antonio refused to accept that. At 5'8'' and 129 pounds now -- not a pound more than when she won -- Domonique showed off her size 2 physique in court.

Even though the pageant director wasn't pleased with those bikini photos, she says that's not why Ramirez was dethroned. She says the 17-year-old was frequently late to public appearances, refused to send thank you letters -- all in violation of her contract, which also includes a section stating that Ramirez must stay the same weight as the day she won the pageant -- 129 pounds.

"We had a vote and we decided it was in the best interest of the organization and San Antonio to have her removed," said Woods.

Beauty Queens Making Headlines

Domonique denies she was a bad beauty queen, but she's hardly the first to make headlines.

In 2009, Carrie Prejean famously caused a stir when answering a question about same-sex marriage.

"I exercise my freedom of speech and I was punished for doing so," Prejean said.

In 1984 then Miss America Vanessa Williams lost her title after nude photos of her surfaced.

What is happening in this San Antonio courtroom may not be as salacious, but Domonique says it's still a weighty matter.

"It's not about the crown, I don't absolutely need this crown to survive. It has nothing to do with that. It's the principle. I was wronged. It can happen to anyone."

Domonique will be in court until at least next week -- she's hoping to be renamed Miss San Antonio in time to compete in the Miss Texas pageant this summer.