Miss Australia Claims Dress Was 'Sabotaged'

(CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - A Miss Universe contestant is crying foul play after this year's pageant.

Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell told the Herald Sun that one of her 82 competitors or an associate of theirs booby-trapped her outfit at the Las Vegas event last month.

Campbell, who placed second runner-up in the pageant, said she put on her dress and felt sharp pains as something stuck into her back. She claimed she took the top off and found pins stuck into it.

"The sabotage was a bit harsh, but you have to laugh at these things and not take it too seriously," she told the Sun.

Campbell isn't sure of the culprit but commented that the Mexican, Central and South American and Filipina contestants were very competitive.

The Manila Bulletin said she made the allegations on an interview with Australia's Nova 91.9 radio station. She claimed it would be hard to narrow down someone among the 82 other contestants, but she did eliminate her "best friends" from Ireland, Belgium, Great Britain and Guam.

While Campbell's allegation made the news after the Miss Universe pageant, prior to it her costume itself was making the headlines.

The outfit was made up of high-heeled UGG boots, an aboriginal-art styled swim suit and rainbow flamenco dress meant to symbolize her heritage.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had suggested that she drop the sheepskin shrug and UGG sheepskin boots because of how the sheep wool is processed. News.com.au   reported that PETA later sent her chocolates for wearing synthetic sheepskin.

Her fashion sense was also criticized. The UK Telegraph said Australian Grazia magazine's fashion features editor Clare Maclean called it a "travesty" and described the skirt as looking "like it was made for a flamenco dancer from discount fabric bin scraps."

WAtoday.com.au said she had unveiled the look in July and credited it to Sydney fashion designer Natasha Dwyer, who said she was going for an exaggerated and eccentric look.

She isn't the first contestant in a beauty pageant to allege misdeeds.

After winning the Miss Puerto Rico Universe crown in 2007, People magazine reported that Ingrid Marie Rivera had claimed that her evening gown was doused with pepper spray. She was questioned by police after nothing was found, but the investigation was later dropped.

And MSNBC's TODAY show had reported in 2008 that Jessica Wittenbrink, who won Miss South Florida Fair Pageant, alleged during the pageant that her evening gown was found smeared with lipstick.