Miss Cornwall stripped of her title for being too old and living in Plymouth
A teacher has been stripped of her beauty queen crown and the chance to enter Miss England after she was caught out over her age and where she lives.
Laura Anness, 27, from Plymouth, was crowned Miss Cornwall at a pageant held earlier this month in Newquay in front of hundreds of people.
However, organisers were forced to take the title away from her after they decided she had deceived them to enter the contest.
The 23 entrants were required to be aged from 17 to 24 and living, working or studying within the county.
Becky Chapman, 38, Miss Cornwall organiser said: "I didn't think she looked older than 24.
"But when I was cleaning my office, I came across Miss Cornwall entry forms completed by Laura as far back as 2006.
"That year she'd put her age as 22, and again in 2007, in 2008, and in 2010.
"When I approached Laura about this, she came clean and admitted she'd lied about her age to follow her dream.
"I had to then pay Laura a visit at home and that's when I found out where she lives.
"For a girl to enter Miss Cornwall, she needs to live, work or study in Cornwall.
"Laura had told me that she lived in Saltash, Cornwall, but she doesn't, she lives in Plymouth, Devon, and has no real connection with Cornwall.
"It's all rather sad and has never happened before in the contest.
"Laura had no problem with handing the crown and sash back and had not used any of the prizes.
"We gave each other a hug and she said she was really sorry."
It was the fourth time she had entered the pageant and the first time she had been placed in the top three.
Miss Chapman added: "I feel sorry for her, she'd been entering these contests for years and never won, and now she has finally won she gets her title taken from her."
When contacted, Miss Anness declined to be interviewed.
She said: "I don't want to say anything. I just want to forget about it."
A new ceremony is due to be held this week to crown runner-up Samantha Orpe, 21, and lives in Truro, Miss Cornwall.
126 Comments
View all
by Freethinker, Cornwall
Thursday, July 08 2010, 11:46AM
“I couldn't give a fig that Laura Anness lied about her age or about where she came from. This is a beautiful lady who deserved to win that title. What a specimen of true beauty, that smile and those eyes are to die for... Freethinker”
by P. Lemon, Penryn
Wednesday, July 07 2010, 6:17PM
“Peter, Bodmin - have you tried to read ?
Idiot
I've been called Chappell, Trenbath, Leaman, Talebot & T. kernow, among others, probably (I can't remember them all, sorry)
They seek him here,
they seek him there
Those Anglo-nats seek him everywhere
Is he in heaven or is he in Helston?
That damned elusive Bitter Lemon
He meddles with the Duchy constitution
Popping up here each week
Spoiling every Anglo-centric lesson
Hey, what a cheek!
But like the Murphy¿s, he¿s not bitter
Cos when he gets home, there¿s the baby-sitter
(Somersetshire/EmmetInHoose, 1497)”
by P. Lemon, Penryn
Wednesday, July 07 2010, 3:41PM
“Salty gary, sadly, in Saltash, Cornwall,
Rarely any comment of value or interest
Moderators can we please end the stalking of this giant gremlin.
He really upsets me, and he's very big too...”
by Gary, Saltash
Wednesday, July 07 2010, 8:29AM
“As I said before, read the words not the Ids
p. Lemon, Penryn Salty,
Zero Gov, Truro Salty
max power, St austell
PT no comment of value
Moderators can we please end the stalking of this little gremlin from praa he is preventing new people contributing or enjoying light hearted debate he adds little value and is failing to upset me or drag me down to his level, but it does upset me he is yet again preventing real people contributing”
by peter, Bodmin
Wednesday, July 07 2010, 6:18AM
“Zero Gov, praa sands have you tried to read the story?
Idiot”
by Zero Gov, Truro
Tuesday, July 06 2010, 11:00PM
“Paranoid Salty, me, no chance.
You want to look at your English self Salty.
Your paranoia about the Cornish people says it all really.
Time to have a reality check Gary.
We all have to grow up sometime. Unfortunately Gary, some more than others. I must admit though Salty, Blogging does create an awful lot of the 'hive mentality.' Ta ta Salty”
by Gary, Saltash
Tuesday, July 06 2010, 5:39PM
“Perhaps he thinks being an revolutionary is the road to fried chip Damascus, in time before the brainwashing set in he will discover when the chips dry up he is being led down the primrose path”
by p. Lemon, Penryn
Tuesday, July 06 2010, 5:23PM
“Salty,
You mention your size ealier, but I guess you would need some weight-lifting ability, as with the amount of merchant banking you do on here, need strong wrists; don't imagine you've got a lot of kids, if more goes over the keyboard than in the vacinity of the marital bed...
Do you really have a job and a family, or you just a little man in a bedsit, getting over-excited about the next thread and your future non-contribution?”
by youngcornwall, uk
Tuesday, July 06 2010, 4:56PM
“if you don't see eye to eye with Graham. If you pledge a small amount what do you have to lose? When the campaign goes forward there will be everything to gain and if it doesn't then you will have lost nothing.
MK councillor
And if thing don¿t go as expected, who is going to be left holding the can, most likely Graham, are you prepared to put your business on the line Stephen?”
by youngcornwall, uk
Tuesday, July 06 2010, 12:00PM
“A MK councillor who has only lived in cornwall for one year and lurks here under a few IDs just posted his photo collection
Gary, Saltash
The same councillors take on the commonwealth games is typical of the few, as you see nothing to do with the games, or the honour it would be to participate, no it is all to do with the political game.
¿I can't understand why someone wouldn't want to make a pledge to something that could make a big difference to Cornwall. Come on guys let's get behind the project even if you don't see eye to eye with Graham. If you pledge a small amount what do you have to lose? When the campaign goes forward there will be everything to gain and if it doesn't then you will have lost nothing¿”