Amanda Longacre recently was crowned Miss Delaware, but her tenure under the tiara was short-lived, as she was stripped of her title. Due to her age.
Longacre was crowned June 14, but she since been disqualified. The Miss America Organization says that contestants must be 17 to 24 years old.
She will turn 25 in October. Brittany Lewis, also 24, was crowned in her place a brief ceremony at the Dover Downs Hotel Casino on Thursday.
Amanda Longacre isn't going down with a fight, however, claiming she signed a contract with her age and birthday clearly stated, before winning.
She says a member of the board signed off on that contract on a local, state and national level. Only Tuesday was she notified that her age was an issue.
Longacre will not able to compete in the Miss America Pageant in September. In addition to being stripped of her title, she loses all prizes associated with it.
The organization said in a press release Thursday:
"[After] the Miss Delaware Pageant, it was determined that Amanda Longacre exceeded the age requirement in order to be eligible to compete."
"Therefore, the [2014 title] is awarded to Brittany Lewis. The Miss Delaware Pageant is proud to congratulate Brittany and wishes Amanda the very best on her future endeavors."
Longacre protested her ouster on NBC's Today.
"I am so, like, really upset," she said. "I'm left here wondering why I was put in this position to begin with. I want this chance still to go to Miss America."
"It's like they're trying to erase me in a way, like it never happened, and it's not fair because I won outright and I deserve to represent my state."
Longacre, who has already been scrubbed from the pageant website as well, says she is working with an attorney to explore her options legally.
Though she's heartbroken, Longacre says, "I really just want to tell everyone that I appreciate all the support I'm getting. It's really lifting my spirits up right now."
