Miss Universe Australia - Erin McNaught

Erin McNaught, the Miss Universe Australia pageant is in turmoil after raunchy topless photo shoot of the newly crowned title holder appeared in a men’s magazine. Furious officials yesterday said Erin McNaught was not fit to wear the crown after topless pictures of her were published in men’s magazine Zoo Weekly. They show McNaught, Gold Coast model, in various stages of undress- skimpy underwear, topless or next to nothing.The director of the pageant denied judges had made a mistake in picking McNaught, who is studying for a science degree at the Queensland University of Technology, and insisted she would still go on to represent the country at the international competition in Los Angeles next month.
Erin’s mother, Lin McNaught, said the pictures were taken long before this month’s Miss Australia competition in Melbourne and that organisers had known about them at the time of her entry before Erin was appointed Miss Universe Australia. “The national director knew about that (the nude photographs) before Erin was even appointed Miss Australia. He didn’t have a problem with it,'’ Mrs McNaught said. Mrs McNaught said she had spoken to Mr Davie who denied there was any move to make Perth’s Leah Fuhrmann should be the winner.This did nothing to ease the anger of one judge, Jonathan Westbrook, of Perth, who said neither he nor his colleagues had known about the topless shots.
Pageant judges Cathy Freeman, Jonathan Westbrook, Lillian Frank and Con Diavatiotis and pageant coordinator Deborah Miller say McNaught is not worthy of the Miss Universe Australia title. Mr Westbrook believes the pageant has “descended into a farce”‘ and claims McNaught accepted the winner’s $20,000 diamond tiara and failed to turn up for media and sponsorship commitments in Melbourne last week.
Mr Westbrook said Ms McNaught was not fit to hold the title and accused her of “dragging the contest into the gutter”. “She is not the sort of wholesome role model we are looking for,” he said.Pageant co-ordinator Deborah Miller said Ms McNaught had set a bad example and did not deserve to retain the title. “Yes, I do believe she should have the crown taken from her,” Ms Miller said. “She’s not a role model for young girls.”But pageant director and licensee Jim Davie believes Ms McNaught has done nothing wrong.Another judge, photographer Grant Good endorsed Mr Davie’s view, saying the photos were “tastefully done and, in any case, they were taken before she won. They don’t contravene any rules or regulations.”
Close friends in the modelling industry rallied behind McNaught yesterday, arguing she had been a model ambassador.“To be honest, I haven’t been in contact with her for two weeks because she’s so hard to get in contact with, but this would be disappointing if it’s the case,” a friend and fashion industry businessman said.