Last updated at 23:33 24 December 2007

The newly-crowned Miss France has been ordered to hand back her sash after photographs of her draped on a crucifix and provocatively eating yoghurt were published in a magazine.

Valerie Begue, 22, was in disgrace after organisers of the beauty pageant took exception to the photographs of her floating on a crucifix in a swimming pool and eating yoghurt in a sexually suggestive manner.

The decision to demand that Miss Begue be sacked has almost triggered a revolt in her home town on the island of Reunion in the French Indian Ocean.

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The young business student posed for the photos three years ago anad they were re-published in a French magazine.

As soon as the images of her, wearing only a bikini, were printed Genevieve Fontenay, head of France's Miss World panel, said Begue should quit.

"I don't understand how she can have the cheek to enter when she knew perfectly well the ethical rules.

"I certainly cannot see myself being escorted around France by a woman like that."

The 75-year-old former model was also reported to say "She's in Reunion, and she should stay there."

Her comments sparked outrage among the islanders, who accused mainland France of racism and being dismissive of the islanders.

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Angry callers inundated local radio stations, there was a demonstration in Begue's home town and politicians have written a letter of protest to Paris

The beauty queen said photographs were a youthful indiscretion but added that she had been "betrayed" by whoever had sold the pictures to Entrevue magazine.

In 2004, Laetitia Bleger was stripped of her Miss France title for "making herself available for licentious shots" after she posed for Playboy magazine.