Miss Universe Accused of Faking Documents for Pageant

Miss Angola Leila Lopes, left, is crowned Miss Universe 2011 by Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete, of Mexico, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sept. 12, 2011.

New allegations against the winner of the Miss Universe competition claim that Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, falsified documents to enter and win a qualifying contest in England.

The Argentinian newspaper Infobae published a report Thursday alleging that Lopes was unfairly allowed to participate in a Miss Angola competition for Angolan citizens living in the UK, even though she has never lived outside of Angola.

The report claimed that a man named Charles Mukano helped falsify documents identifying Lopes as a student of business management at a British school, enabling her to enter and win the contest there. Infobae cites reports in Angolan media that allege that Mukano may have even bribed judges in England to ensure Lopes’s win.

The Miss Universe pageant said they will comment on the matter sometime today.

Lopes was the first Miss Universe from her country, but came under attack in the following days by Miss France and fans of Miss Phillipines as undeserving of the crown.