Miss Universe Paulina Vega Will Not Give up Crown Despite Donald Trump Row

Miss Universe Paulina Vega says she will not give up her crown, despite her home country Colombia withdrawing its bid to host the competition.

Paulina Vega had come under pressure to quit after Colombia’s condemnation of the pageant owner, Donald Trump.

Donald Trump caused a furor last month after he said Mexican immigrants who came to the US brought drugs and crime.

Paulina Vega called Donald Trump’s comments “unjust and hurtful”, but said she would continue as Miss Universe.

“The fact that I am not giving up my crown doesn’t mean I am changing my stance about everything I said,” Paulina Vega told local radio on July 6, adding that the Miss Universe organization did meaningful social work.

“I have kept doing my job as Miss Universe all these days. The work continues as always despite all this craziness going on,” she added.

Donald Trump had attacked Paulina Vega for keeping her crown, saying: “Miss Universe, Paulina Vega, criticized me for telling the truth about illegal immigration, but then said she would keep the crown – hypocrite.”

While announcing his candidacy for the US presidency last month, Donald Trump had accused Mexico of sending rapists and other criminals to the US.

Donald Trump also pledged to build a “great wall” on the US border with Mexico and insisted it would be paid for by Mexicans.

He later insisted he was criticizing US lawmakers, not Mexican people.

Following Donald Trump’s remarks, several TV networks across the Americas said they would no longer air Miss Universe, including the Spanish language network, Univision and NBC.

Mexico also announced that it would not send a contestant to Miss Universe pageant.