Angie tells it all

Angie tells it all

The Nation

Publication Date : 2005-09-28

Pic: angie.jpg (med-res)

A beauty queen goes to war

Asia News Network
The Nation/Bangkok

An "unfair contract" with BEC-Tero prompted her to give up Miss
Thailand World.

Miss Thailand World 2005 Angela McKay stunned everyone with
her version of the truth when she announced at the end of
September that her resignation from the title was a staged set-up
manipulated by the pageant organizer BEC-Tero.

"I don't want to lie anymore about having anything else such
as education that would take priority over being Miss Thailand
World," said Angela, who quit her title after just 10 days.

She said the real reason behind her resignation from the Miss
Thailand World 2005 title was the "unfair contract" between her
and BEC-Tero.

She said she hoped presenting her side of the story would put
an end to all the rumors surrounding her resignation.

Angela announced her resignation from Miss Thailand World
2005, explaining that she wished to further her education. However,
her announcement inspired claims that the real reason behind her
resignation concerned the discovery of a set of explicit nude
photographs of the former model.

When asked to comment on Angela's announcement, BEC-Tero chief
executive Brian Marcar said tersely, "It is not true." He refused
to elaborate, saying he was busy with preparations for the
Thailand Open 2005.

Accompanied by her father, Robert McKay, Angela appeared on
the Saitrong Bantuen TV entertainment program on Channel 5 to
disclose the full story.

"I was advised by BEC-Tero to inform the press that I was
stepping down because I wanted to further my studies," the half-
Thai, half-Australian beauty said.

Angela denied rumors that the nude pictures recently
circulated on the Internet were the reason behind her decision to
step down from the Miss Thailand World title. She said BEC-Tero
had seen her portfolio, which contained some inexplicit nude
shots used for an advertising campaign, and that they were no
secret.

She added that the more explicit pictures circulated on the
Internet were computer-generated fakes and claimed that when she
said she was going to quit and return to Australia, BEC-Tero told
her that if she left they would be obliged to print the photos.

Angela then showed the pictures from her portfolio to the
press and said that she would let the Thai people judge for
themselves whether the photos were inappropriate for someone
holding the Miss Thailand World title.

Angela added that a further reason for her stepping down was
due to BEC-Tero's refusal to discuss the contract with her.

Unable to read Thai, Angela said she only scanned through a
rough translation of the contract on the application date, as she
didn't expect to win the title. She said her cousin then
translated the contract once she had won, and the actual deal
appeared very different.

Details she was unhappy with included the lack of salary
payments aside from the Bt1 million (US$24,233) prize money, and
the lack of residential provisions.

She says she subsequently requested a payment of Bt150,000
(US$3,635) per month and lodgings with gym facilities but that
BEC-Tero failed to respond.

"I wish to thank all the judges who voted for me and all the
people who have helped and supported me. I wish to say sorry for
disappointing them," said Angela in her press statement.

"Truthfully, I feel that I had a good chance to win the Miss
World crown for Thailand and I would have been so proud to win
for Thailand. Sadly, this chance has gone. I'm so proud to have
represented Miss Thailand World even if it was just for 10 days."

She said her fellow pageant attendants had also expressed
concerns about the contract but that there was little that they
would, or could, do about it.

First runner-up Sirinda "Cindy" Jensen said she talked to
Angela a few days ago and was shocked to hear that Angela was
leaving. However, Cindy, speaking from the MTI make-up school,
said that she would still be fulfilling her duties as the first
runner-up and that the pair would remain good friends.

"Actually I never wanted to go home. I just wanted to discuss
the contract," said Angela, adding that she would be returning
the Bt1 million prize and tiara, but not the cash sums awarded
for achieving the Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic prizes.

Asked if she was afraid of BEC-Tero filing a lawsuit against
her following the press conference, Angela admitted that she did
have some concerns.

However, following comments from Anchana Panyarachun, BEC-
Tero's corporate image manager, which suggested that the matter
was of little importance, it looks as if Miss McKay may escape
any lawsuits.