The newly dethroned former Miss Zimbabwe hinted on Monday that she may take legal action to protest against the revoking of her title.
Emily Kachote, 25, was told last week she could no longer represent Zimbabwe after nude pictures of her emerged. The rules of the pageant insist that all models taking part must never have posed naked.
“I’ve never posed for any nude or indecent picture in my life,” she wrote on Facebook on Monday in a stance that appears to hinge on whether she actually “posed” for the contentious photos – leaked by a former partner, or whether the pictures were taken without her consent.
Kachote maintains she did not consent to the pictures being taken and therefore did not “pose” for nude photos.
“What happened, I’m not proud of it, but I’m not ashamed of it either,” she was quoted as saying.
A day after she was told she was being stripped of her title, Kachote said she was “waiting for [my] attorney” and would hold a press conference soon. Unconfirmed reports say she has refused to hand back her tiara and insists she is still Miss Zimbabwe.
Zimbabweans critical of Kachote include pageant organisers Miss Zimbabwe Trust, which allegedly accused her of being “reckless, a drunk and a liar”, according to state media. Others have defended her, however.
Writer Tino Hondo tweeted: “Am angry at the firing of Miss Zimbabwe not only coz she dark like me but this rule that Miss Zims hev to be ‘moral’ has to go.” She added: “Moral women do drink beer and have sex.”
Kachote is not the first Miss Zimbabwe to lose her title over nude pictures. Last year’s winner Thabiso Phiri lost her crown over similar allegations. The Miss Zimbabwe Trust insists she resigned voluntarily.
First Princess Annie Grace Mutambu will now represent Zimbabwe at Miss World 2015, which is scheduled to take place in Sanya, China on December 19.
