As 62 beauty pageant contestants posed for poolside photos at the Westin Diplomat on Thursday, Miss South Florida Karina Brez wondered if some other poses will get her kicked out of Miss Florida USA pageant.
Brez is at the center of a controversy after pageant organizers found out about photos of the 23-year-old posing in lingerie.
Just days before the pageant, scheduled for July 16, Brez is still a contestant, which ha some of the ladies fuming.
Last month, NBC Miami obtained photos of Brez taken for a lingerie line. The company obtained use of the famous Playboy trademark and that sparked controversy.
An NBC viewer anonymously shared the photos with NBC Miami.
Several contestants, who wanted to remain anonymous, said Brez should not be allowed to compete for the title.
They pointed to a clause in the pageant contract that reads "I am of good health and moral character. I have not engaged in any activities, which if disclosed to the public would bring or tend to bring myself into disrepute, ridicule or contempt."
Brez said she actually embraces the controversy and believes it comes with the territory.
"That's just a part of being a part of the spotlight,. There's nothing I did wrong," she said. "I'd never do nudity in my life. I was doing an advertising campaign for the company. It's a wonderful company.”
Brez says the photos are innocent and that she took them to help a friend. So we wanted to know what pageant organizers think.
"Everything in that situation was fine. It was very classy, very up and above,” said Miss Florida USA organizer Grant Gravitt Jr.
Other contestants agree and welcome the competition.
"As long as it's tasteful and she's not showing anything, I don't think it's bad,” said contestant Ashley Schmiet.
Now the glamour girl is shifting her focus to winning the next crown.
"That's OK cause I can take it,” Brez said.
