Miss New Zealand Avianca Bohm Could Lose Crown Over Citizenship Issue

Miss New Zealand 2012

Miss New Zealand Avianca Bohm may be stripped of her title as she is not a New Zealander.

Bohm, who was born in South Africa, moved to New Zealand when she was 16 years old, only speaking Afrikaans.

The pageant's rules stipulate that entrants must hold New Zealand residency and citizenship. Apparently, Bohm does not have her citizenship yet.

Bohn is reportedly now working for her citizenship to be fast-tracked so that she could still compete in Miss Universe later this year.

Bohm's citizenship issue was not hidden in the competition at all. Pageant director Val Lott said she allowed the 22-year-old to join the competition as it would boost her confidence. But Lott said he told the judges not to let Bohm win the title because of the issue.

"It's not embarrassing for the competition. It's embarrassing for the [chief] judge, who should have taken on board what I said to him," Lott told the New Zealand Herald.

He added: "[Bohm] and I both had a clear understanding that she could not win. I said, you can enter it because it will still be confidence-boosting and great for your area to represent Howick."

Representing Howick, Bohm was crowned in a ceremony on Saturday night in Wellington.