A new Miss Delaware was chosen Thursday, June 26 after the one crowned earlier in June lost her crown for being “too old.”
Brittany Lewis, 24, was the first runner-up as Miss Wilmington got the crown Thursday night at the Dover Downs Hotel Casino during a brief ceremony.
With the new title, Lewis has gained a scholarship, a year’s contract as Miss Delaware and a shot at becoming Miss America in September. This was all lost by Amanda Longacre who lost the crown because she will be turning 25 in October.
Longacre won the title on June 14. The Miss America Organization website says that contestants running to become Miss America must be between the ages of 17 and 24. Longacre was “too old.”
"Following the Miss Delaware Pageant, it was determined that Amanda Longacre exceeded the age requirement in order to be eligible to compete therefore, the Miss Delaware 2014 title is awarded to Brittany Lewis," the organization said in a release. "The Miss Delaware Pageant is proud to congratulate Brittany and wishes Amanda the very best on her future endeavors."
This announcement was made at the crowning, but no questions were accepted.
Longacre and Delaware officials both said that Longacre was cleared to run in the contest both in local and state competitions.
"I competed on the local and state level and even signed my national contract and it was notarized and no one said anything to me and it was all notarized with my birthday on the contract," she said. "I gave them all the proper documents."
All calls asking to speak to officials were not returned, according to USA Today.
Lewis said that she looks forward to serving the state of Delaware and representing the state in honor of her late sister who was killed by domestic violence in 2010.
Longacre is not happy. Though it is generally part of the “Miss America” spirit to be happy for the others that win, Longacre is heartbroken.
"They are making me forfeit everything," she said. "It's really humiliating because I did nothing wrong."
Longacre, according to E! Online, is working with an attorney to sort out her options.
Though Longacre is heartbroken, she is glad that she has so many people supporting her. “It’s really lifting up my spirits right now,” Longacre said.