Lumbee woman denied shot at Miss America

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2002

A federal judge on Thursday refused to order the Miss America pageant to allow a member of North Carolina's Lumbee Tribe to compete.

Rebekah Revels won the state crown but resigned after an ex-boyfriend said he had topless photos of her. The title was given to the runner-up, Misty Clymer, whom the Miss America pageant recognizes at the one and only North Carolina representative.

U.S. District Judge James Fox, in his ruling, said the ex-boyfriend, Tosh Welch, was "despicable," according to the Associated Press. Welsh lives on the Eastern Cherokee Reservation but hasn't been heard from lately.

Get the Story:
Judge denies Revels' motion (The Raleigh News-Observer 9/13)
A Miss North Carolina Loses Her Court Bid (The New York Times 9/13)
Judge refuses to name Revels the real Miss North Carolina (AP 9/13)

Relevant Links:
Miss America - http://www.missamerica.org