Miss Corpus Christi Latina contestants sue, claiming winner's past should disqualify her

Six contestants in the Miss Corpus Christi Latina pageant say Caitlin Cifuentes should have been disqualified, June 29, 2016. Cifuentes won. Photos via Caitlin Cifuentes via Facebook. Six contestants in the Miss Corpus Christi Latina pageant say Caitlin Cifuentes should have been disqualified, June 29, 2016. Cifuentes won. Photos via Caitlin Cifuentes via Facebook. Photo: Caitlin Cifuentes Via Facebook Photo: Caitlin Cifuentes Via Facebook Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Miss Corpus Christi Latina contestants sue, claiming winner's past should disqualify her 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

Soon after the crown was placed on Caitlin Cifuentes's head at the Miss Corpus Christi Latina pageant, the 25-year-old had to take to social media to defend her title.

"I am only going to state this once," the pageant queen wrote on Facebook. "I worked very very hard to win this title. ...."

Six contestants who competed against Cifuentes for the crown are suing the Miss Corpus Christi Latina pageant director because, they say, Cifuentes' past should have disqualified her. Cifuentes won the crown June 11 and is supposed to compete for the state title in August.

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In the lawsuit, the contestants claim Cifuentes' previous marriage and criminal record should have disqualified her from the contest, in keeping with the pageant contract.

According to Nueces County court documents, Cifuentes is on deferred adjudicated probation for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and probation for a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated case.

The contestants are seeking $100,000 from pageant director Kayla Alvarez, who they say allowed Cifuentes to compete, according to the lawsuit.

"Kayla Alvarez willfully and knowingly violated countless terms of the contractual agreement by allowing Caitlin Cifuentes to participate in and ultimately win the pageant," the lawsuit states.

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Alvarez defended the judge's decision in an interview with the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

"Just because you have a bad background ... doesn't mean that should hold you back from accomplishing your goals," Alvarez told the Caller-Times. "She's worked very hard and the judges saw that and she won fair and square."

For now, Cifuentes gets to keep her crown. Alvarez explained that Cifuentes could not have been disqualified because being on deferred adjudication probation does not legally mean she was convicted. Alvarez went on to explain that married women are not allowed to compete in the teen category, but divorced women are allowed to participate in the adult category as along as they aren't married at pageant time.

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"I thank god I achieved what I wanted and I feel blessed to have so much love and support," Cifuentes wrote on Facebook. "With that said, there is way more positivity and love than negativity so for those that are bitter, please understand that this was a competition and the judges made their own final decision. I forgive those who choose to be hateful. Overall we all did awesome and we are all beautiful."