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Philippines

Philippine entry kicked out of Miss Universe contest

The Philippines’ entry for the Miss Universe beauty contest has been disqualified after local organisers found out she was born overseas to unmarried parents. Maria Venus Raj had been due to represent her country in the August competition following her victory in the Miss Philippines-Universe pageant.

A Facebook group entitled Team Venus Forever is calling for Maria Venus Raj to be reinstated
A Facebook group entitled Team Venus Forever is calling for Maria Venus Raj to be reinstated Team Venus Facebook group
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But the 21-year-old journalism graduate was stripped of her crown after organisers discovered she was born in Qatar to an Indian man who was not married to her Filipina mother.

Her birth certificate had stated she was born in the Philippines to married parents.

Lilia Ambay of the Miss Philippines-Universe organisation said Raj had not lost her title due to questions over her citizenship but because her birth certificate had contained false information.

Raj has received support from fans on Facebook who called for her reinstatement but a runner-up will now take place Raj’s place in the Miss Universe contest.

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