Battle for the crown

• World body considering legal action 
• Denies allegation of judges being influenced
• Defends Rosy Senanayake and Chandimal
• The finals of the Mrs World 2022 took place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mrs America Shaylyn Ford was crowned the winner while Mrs Jordan and Mrs UAE were the runners up
• Caroline Jurie to remain a former Mrs. World

By Easwaran Rutnam   

The Mrs. World Organization has debunked a string of allegations made by Mrs. Sri Lanka Pushpika De Silva with regards to the finals of the Mrs. World pageant and is considering taking legal action against her.   
The Vice President of Mrs. World Inc. Tana Johnson told Daily Mirror in an exclusive interview that Mrs. America Shaylyn Ford was the legitimate winner of the finals held recently and that the results were not influenced by any third party.   

“People should understand that she (Rosy) is a classy professional woman”

In a video interview with Danu Innasithamby on Daily Mirror, Tana Johnson explained the entire judging process for the Mrs World pageant and insisted that all contestants were judged fairly.   

Mrs. Sri Lanka Pushpika De Silva had this week raised suspicion on the outcome of the finals of the Mrs. World pageant after she failed to win the crown.   

Pushpika De Silva was among the top six in the finals but she insisted that she was on track to win the crown.   
The finals of the Mrs World 2022 took place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mrs America Shaylyn Ford was crowned the winner while Mrs. Jordan and Mrs UAE were the runners up. 

"The judges do not mingle with anyone before the final"

However, in an interview with a YouTube channel, Pushpika De Silva accused former Mrs. World Rosy Senanayake of influencing the judges to ensure she did not win the crown.   
She charged that Rosy Senanayake, who also attended the finals in Las Vegas, had influenced the judges to change the decision and cost her the crown.   

In a Facebook post, Pushpika De Silva also said that she was placed 4th in the final. She later said that Senanayake informed her she had been placed 4th.   
Tana Johnson told Daily Mirror that the placement for 4th, 5th and 6th place was scrapped 15 years ago.   
She said that the only number placement happens in the top three and not the top six.   
Ms Johnson explained that the 41 contestants go into the preliminary rounds and are interviewed by the judges. The interview carries 51 percent of the score.   

Of the 41 contestants, 15 are selected and they are judged from scratch with the previous scores erased.   
After the evening wear and swimsuit round the judges pick the top six and the top six are judged again from a clean slate.   
Ms Johnson said the top six are asked a question and are judged on their response and evening gown to pick the top six.   

"Of the 41 contestants, 15 are selected and they are judged from scratch with the previous scores erased"

Pushpika was in the top six but failed to be selected among the top three.   
However, Pushpika appealed the decision and wanted to see the final results of the judges.   
The President and CEO of the Mrs World pageant, Elaine Marmel, had refused to share the final results with Pushpika as it goes against the policy of the pageant.   
Ms Johnson opined that appealing the decision is not empowering women and looks like an attempt to take the crown away from the legitimate winner.   

She also denied claims made by Pushpika that the judges had told her she was the legitimate winner.   
“I don’t see any judge saying they expected her to win. Also, nobody sees the judges’ score as it directly goes to the auditor and later Marmel. The judges do not mingle with anyone before the final. No one knows who the judges are till the day of the interview,” Johnson said.   
In the interview with the YouTube channel, Pushpika had also questioned why Rosy Senanayake attended the finals.   

"The organisers are considering a request from Sri Lanka to hold a future Mrs. World pageant in Sri Lanka after the scheduled one had to be shifted owing to Covid."

Johnson said that Rosy Senanayake was invited to attend the pageant as a VIP guest and that her travel and accommodation costs were covered by the organisers.   
“People should understand that she (Rosy) is a classy professional woman,” Johnson added.   
She also defended National Director Chandimal Jayasinghe saying they had no reason not to trust him.   
One of the criteria to be eligible to take part in the Mrs. World or local pageant is that you must be legally married. Every contestant at Mrs World had to provide a marriage licence document.   
Johnson said that Pushpika provided the document, so the organisers understand it is still a legally binding marriage.   

Asked about Caroline Jurie, Johnson said that she did do a lot of good with her title and will always be a Mrs. World as she legitimately won the crown before stepping down.   
Johnson also revealed that the organisers are considering a request from Sri Lanka to hold a future Mrs. World pageant in Sri Lanka after the scheduled one had to be shifted owing to Covid.