Miss Laura Elena Zuniga Huizar stripped of title, disqualified

Dec 29, 2008 12:57 GMT  ·  By
Beauty queen Elena Zuniga Huizar arrested for drug and weapons related charges
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   Beauty queen Elena Zuniga Huizar arrested for drug and weapons related charges

In October 2008, 23-year-old Zuniga was proudly posing for pictures, as she had just been crowned Queen of Hispanic America, a title she had undoubtedly worked hard to achieve. On Friday, she was posing again for the paparazzi, this time unwillingly, as she was dragged to police headquarters on weapons and drug related charges. Just a few hours ago, because of the ensuing scandal, Zuniga was stripped of her crown and ditched by the pageant organization.

On Friday, a judge ordered that Zuniga be detained for another 40 days pending investigation. The beauty queen, once the walking pride of her country, Mexico, was allegedly caught with 9 mm pistols, semi-automatic rifles and $53,000 in cash. With her was also a man believed to be her boyfriend, reportedly a drug lord for the Juarez Cartel, and six other men. All eight are awaiting prosecution for charges of “racketeering, drug trafficking, guns and money laundering.” the Time publication informs.

Whereas no comment was made by a representative of the beauty queen, the beauty pageant organization has already spoken out and explained the decision of dethroning Zuniga of her title. Admittedly, she broke the only rule that required her to demonstrate “adequate behavior, avoid scandals and bad habits and be a good example for society.” Promociones Gloria said in a statement released to the media on the heels of her highly mediated arrest.

Zuniga is also the third ranked beauty in Miss Mexico and this means that, as the local media underlines, no matter in how many scandals she is involved from now on, or how many times her titles are taken from her, she still qualifies to represent her country in the Miss International beauty contest in 2009. However, if the police investigation finds her legally liable, then it would be impossible for her to take part in the competition, as the organization would prevent her from participating.

While the Zuniga scandal has provided fuel for gossip-lovers worldwide, the fall from grace of the 23-year-old beauty also tells another story, as more than one publication has already stressed. “[It] provided some variety in the news for a nation weary of piles of corpses and vicious firefights in its relentless drug war. But beneath the media frolics, the tale of the fallen beauty queen highlights the dark side of how sprawling crime syndicates have penetrated so many areas of Mexican life.” Time writes.

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Beauty queen Elena Zuniga Huizar arrested for drug and weapons related charges
Mugshot of Elena Zuniga Huizar upon arrest
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