A judge ruled to to reinstate Diana Maria Salgado as the Miss Valle constestant in the Miss Colombia contest. The beauty queen was booted from the competition by organizer Combelleza for gaining weight.
Salgado, who initially said her with withdrawl was for “health reasons,” later revealed that she was forced to withdraw by the President of the Combelleza competition Andrea Velez, because she had gained 5 kilograms and was no longer “fit to represent La Valle.”
Salgado claimed that the extra weight had been gained as a result of a poor training regime which made her gain muscle mass, not fat and took the matter to court in an expediated discrimination case.
Salgado’s lawyer Abelardo De la Espriella said that Combelleza was “creating a protype of beauty that is leading to anorexia and illness,” El Tiempo reported.
Celebrity lawyer De la Espriella said the verdict “creates an important legal precedent against discrimination”.
Combelleza head honcho Velez declined to comment on the verdict. Combelleza public relations officer Jorge Dusterdick said his organization had not received official notification of the ruling.
Salgado was replaced by Catalina Robayo. The position of the replacement beauty queen is unclear.