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Judge to rule on who represents North Carolina

By Rose Hooper
Miss NC Revels

Wake County Superior Court Judge Narley Cashwell was expected to rule Wednesday (Sept. 4) on whether Rebekah Revels or Misty Clymer will represent North Carolina at the Miss America pageant.

Preliminary events for the Atlantic City, N.J., pageant start Friday.

Revels turned in her Miss North Carolina crown July 29, attributing her resignation to actions taken against her by a former boyfriend, Tosh Welch, 25, a Cherokee police officer.

Revels voluntarily resigned after her former fiancé sent a "negative" e-mail to the Miss America Organization.

The controversy concerned photographs Welch said he had, including a from-the-waist-up nude shot taken of Revels while she was changing clothes.

First runner-up Misty Clymer of Raleigh was crowned the new Miss North Carolina during a private ceremony July 31.

Last week the 24-year-old Revels, a Lumbee Indian, sued the North Carolina pageant for breach of contract. The St. Pauls resident alleged she was forced to resign. Wake County Superior Court Judge Abraham Jones temporarily reinstated the title of Miss North Carolina to Revels on Aug. 29.

Judge Cashwell heard a recap of events Tuesday, Sept. 2, and told news reporters his decision would concentrate on the contract issue and whether Revels suffered "irreparable harm."

Back to Archive: 09/05/02.