By what standard???

[Betty Boop]

The pageant wouldn't stand by Vanessa Williams with only a month left in her "reign". Now, Miss New Jersey is facing a blackmail threat of significant revelation. Will she hold her head high and continue on or will the New Jersey pageant ask her to abdicate as the national pageant did to Ms. Williams?

The days of Sandra Dee and Doris Day and even Anita Bryant are long past tense - so what relevance does Miss America have and what should be the standard she is judged by?

My daughters used to ask me "why" a lot. I always answered, "Because you never know when youthful indiscretion will rear it's ugly head BUT I absolutley guarantee you this, if and when it does, it will be at the most inopportune and unpredictable of times." Poor Miss Jersey. I hope they get the extortionist soon.

Miss N.J. receives 2nd blackmail package

Yesterday at 3:52 pm
Miss New Jersey has received a second threatening package from someone trying to blackmail her into relinquishing her crown, her attorney says.
Anthony Caruso, an attorney for Amy Polumbo, said that he was notified about the package Saturday and that it contained a threatening letter and possibly new photographs of the 22-year-old woman.
Caruso would not comment Sunday on the exact contents of the package or say who received it, but said he had given it to state investigators.
Polumbo announced Thursday that someone was trying to blackmail her with old photographs and demanding that she give up her crown by Friday. The student at Wagner College in New York did not step down and has declined to comment publicly beyond her announcement.
Caruso did not say what the first set of photos showed, but he said Friday said that it was the captions on the photographs that troubled Polumbo, not the images. He would not reveal what the captions said.
The first runner-up to Polumbo in the Miss New Jersey pageant in June denied any involvement in the blackmail scheme and said she hoped the scandal wouldn't affect future competitions.
"I wish only the best for Amy and her family at this time," Ronica Licciardello told the New York Post and New York Daily News.
A spokesman for the New Jersey attorney general said Friday that his office would not confirm an investigation. The phone rang unanswered Sunday in a call to another spokesman.
Polumbo is to represent New Jersey in the next Miss America pageant.
Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Miss N.J. receives 2nd blackmail package - News - Yahoo! TV

[BrianK]

Possibly a lot of hype to generate or renew interest in beauty pagents?

Keeping the innocent [as Ms. NJ calls them] silly pics a secret does what? Keeps this as a news story.

No doubt though it beats the other news stories of college girls being abducted & killed.

[KBay84]

BK, I'm more than sure that you well know how catty women can be....and the more "elite" or priveledged they are, or percieve they are, the worse their behavior. I have zero doubts that this is no hoax, but an attempt at cowing by a competitor.

Remember the previous scandals....?

[BrianK]

Originally Posted by KBay84

BK, I'm more than sure that you well know how catty women can be....and the more "elite" or priveledged they are, or percieve they are, the worse their behavior. I have zero doubts that this is no hoax, but an attempt at cowing by a competitor.

Remember the previous scandals....?

I don't doubt it's real I just think it's being milked for a lot of publicity. Actually I think it's being milked to build a case for a civil lawsuit for the bucks.

If it was no big deal why not just put out a news release saying she was being blackmailed and the photos in question can be seen at whatever website they were from?

If there is money to be made & publicity generated then promoting it this way works.

[SNP]

I think I need to personally view these pictures, just to protect the public. My God what if they were of Miss America nude, how tragic. But me being the unselfish person I am will take on this tough job.

[BrianK]

Originally Posted by SNP

I think I need to personally view these pictures, just to protect the public. My God what if they were of Miss America nude, how tragic. But me being the unselfish person I am will take on this tough job.

Still practising the peek thing? Nothing sneaky about volunteering for this job to protect the public. Glad to know that you have no fear in taking on the kind of challenge that requires keen eyesight and the ability to note details.

SNP I hope you report back with what you see and hopefully some picture proof of what you can describe in detail.