Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Venus Raj dethroned

Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Maria Venus Raj was stripped of her crown and title after organizers of the beauty pageant found "inconsistencies" on her birth certificate, a television report said on Monday. GMA News’ “24 Oras" said Raj will be replaced by Bb. Pilipinas runner-up Helen Nicolette Henson, who will now assume the responsibilities of the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2010, which include representing the country to the Miss Universe Pageant.

Raj was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe last March 7. She has not reigned for over a month yet. Other beauty pageant winners who were stripped of their title in the past included Anjanette Abayari (Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, 1991), Tisha Silang (Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, 1998), and Janelle Bautista (Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, 1999). The three were dethroned due to issues on their citizenship – Abayari and Bautista both grew up in the US, while Silang was born in Canada. – KBK, GMANews.TV