Kristhielee Caride will no longer represent the US territory in the upcoming international beauty contest. Caride won the crown four months ago but recently did an interview with a local newspaper in which she was criticized for being dismissive and saying she did not love cameras.
Desiree Lowry, national director of Miss Universe Puerto Rico, was present during that interview.
"I wanted the earth to swallow me," Lowry said. "You always have to put your best face forward ... It's a given that we are going to be in front of cameras and that we have to answer all types of questions."
Caride said in a lengthy Facebook post on Thursday that beauty queens are not exempt from having a bad day and that she was sincerely sorry.
"I allowed my feelings to get in the way of my work," she wrote.
Caride said she did not agree with the decision that Lowry and other officials made, but that she was turning in her sash with dignity.
"I still haven't fully processed the information," she said.
It is the first time a Puerto Rico Miss Universe contestant has lost her crown before the big event is held.
Miss Puerto Rico 1994, Brenda Robles, was dismissed during that year's Miss Universe contest because she was pregnant.
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