SUVA – The Miss World Fiji drama has taken a twist with the disqualified 16-year old winner refusing to return her prizes.
Torika Watters was dropped from the Miss World contest in Mongolia because she was too young.
In the meantime, Tourism permanent secretary has called on Ms Watters and Miss World Fiji national director Andhy Blake to “cease this verbal combat”.
Contestants have to be at least one month away from turning 17 by the start of the contest in July.
Watters wrote to Blake, saying “I don’t think it is right for you to ask me to return the prizes that I won and I am not going to do so.”
Watters was asked to return her crown and prizes and has since been replaced by first runner up, Koini Vakaloloma.
In her e-mail, Watters said her response to Blake was to ensure that things were clear and that she was not misquoted or misunderstood.
In a string of e-mails and responding to correspondence between Watters and Blake, which were copied to the media, Tourism permanent secretary Elizabeth Powell has called on the parties to settle their disagreement directly.
