Beauty contest runner-up snatches crown from winner

A Brazilian beauty pageant took a bizarre turn when the first runner-up snatched the crown off the winner, and threw it to the ground moments after the result was announced.

The incident took place Friday night at a convention centre in Manaus, where Miss Amazon 2015 was taking place.

As Carolina Toledo, 20, was being crowned the winner, runner-up Sheislane Hayalla, 23, ripped out the tiara, threw it to the ground, pointed an accusing finger at her adversary and insulted her before storming off stage, reports dailymail.co.uk.

Hayalla Saturday claimed her rival had bought her way to the title.

"Money talks in Manaus and I wanted to show the Amazon people money doesn't talk here. She didn't deserve the title," she said.

The winner declined to comment on the incident, but said: "This is an unbelievable feeling. I don't have words to explain the way I feel."

Organisers of the competition are deciding whether to punish the runner-up, who would normally be expected to participate in events throughout the year in representation of her state.

The Miss Amazon winner will now represent her state in the national Miss Brazil beauty contest.