Venezuelan national Mileidy Materano will no longer represent Trinidad and Tobago at the Miss Grand International Competition, attorneys representing the beauty queen have confirmed.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, attorney Wayne Sturge told the media that over the past 72 hours, Materano’s pageant manager was informed by the Stolen Productions Limited, the local franchise holder, that Materano and her team would be responsible for funding her trip to Vietnam to participate in the competition next month.   

In the notice communicated via WhatsApp message, Materano was also told that if she couldn’t fulfill that requirement the crown would be passed to the first runner up, Miss St. Joseph Rebecca Hislop.

“In the circumstances, Mileidy has decided that she will formally step down,” Sturge announced. He continued, “She wishes to assure that her decision was in no way influenced by any other consideration. M wishes to indicate that had it not been for this latest development she stood ready to continue her reign. Mileidy wishes the public to understand that the decision to step down was made with a heavy heart.

Had she known in advance that she would be required to fund the trip, Sturge added, Mileidy would not have participated in the local leg of the pageant.

Materano’s win made her the focus of heavy criticism, as many opposed the idea of a non-national representing Trinidad and Tobago on a world stage. 

Sturge said Materano has been advised not to publicly comment on the latest development, given the matter may be a point of litigation in the future. 

Miss Grand International 2023 will be the 11th edition of the Miss Grand International pageant, to be held on October 25th at the Phú Thọ Indoor Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.