'I was called a monster.. and told I look like a DRAG QUEEN': Danish Miss Universe claims she was bullied by pageant boss before being stripped of her crown following money laundering probe into her ex-boyfriend 

  • Christina Mikkelsen was stripped of her Danish Miss Universe crown in February
  • She was sacked after her ex-boyfriend was accused in money laundering probe
  • The Scandinavian beauty, 24, was told of her dethronement on a Danish TV show
  • Pageant believed at the time she was being investigated for money laundering
  • Organisers said she lost crown for breach f contract over media appearances
  • Miss Mikkelsen said Face of Denmark ex-director John Paul Hamilton bullied her
  • 'He called me stupid, lazy, selfish and a monster,' 5ft 7in model told MailOnline
  • Mr Hamilton insisted that he had not bullied Miss Mikkelsen and claims are false

The extraordinary world of beauty contests is under the spotlight amid claims by the Danish Miss Universe that she was bullied and stripped of her title after she was wrongly accused of being under investigation for money laundering.

Stunning Christina Mikkelsen says her life was 'made hell' by boss John Paul Hamilton who ordered her to lose weight and said she looked like a drag queen. 

The Scandinavian beauty queen was told of her dethronement during an interview on Danish TV after her former boyfriend was accused of a multimillion pound fraud.

Face of Denmark, which runs the national beauty contest, emailed the show to tell them she was losing her crown. 

The 24-year-old went on air to discuss the poor treatment she had allegedly received from Mr Hamilton - but instead was told by the host she was being dethroned. 

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Beauty queen: Former Danish Miss Universe Christina Mikkelsen, pictured, said that she was stripped of her title because Face of Denmark, the pageant organisers, believed she may have been under investigation for money laundering into her newly opened salon. MailOnline has since confirmed with prosecutors in France and Switzerland that she is not under investigation

Beauty queen: Former Danish Miss Universe Christina Mikkelsen, pictured, said that she was stripped of her title because Face of Denmark, the pageant organisers, believed she may have been under investigation for money laundering into her newly opened salon. MailOnline has since confirmed with prosecutors in France and Switzerland that she is not under investigation

Allegation: Miss Mikkelsen was told that she had been dethroned of her title on a Danish TV show in February. She had gone on air to discuss the poor treatment she had allegedly received from John Paul Hamilton, a former director of Face of Denmark, which runs the beauty contest

Allegation: Miss Mikkelsen was told that she had been dethroned of her title on a Danish TV show in February. She had gone on air to discuss the poor treatment she had allegedly received from John Paul Hamilton, a former director of Face of Denmark, which runs the beauty contest

Stripped of title: Miss Mikkelsen fell out with Mr Hamilton after she was crowned Miss Danish Universe in May. The model told MailOnline that Mr Hamilton had 'made her life hell' by bullying her, claims that he denied
Miss Mikkelsen diving while on holiday

Stripped of title: Miss Mikkelsen fell out with Mr Hamilton after she was crowned Miss Danish Universe in May. The model told MailOnline that Mr Hamilton had 'made her life hell' by bullying her, claims that he denied

Fall out: Miss Mekkelsen said Mr Hamilton, pictured left, told her to lose weight and said she looked like a drag queen. She said Mr Hamilton called her selfish, stupid, ignorant and lazy.

Fall out: Miss Mekkelsen said Mr Hamilton, pictured left, told her to lose weight and said she looked like a drag queen. She said Mr Hamilton called her selfish, stupid, ignorant and lazy.

The beauty pageant told Good Morning Denmark that it believed she may be under investigation for money laundering into her newly opened salon. 

The host told her: 'Anders [de Voss, Face of Denmark owner] has written to us that you have lost the title as Miss Universe in Denmark. Did you know about this?

Miss Mikkelsen replied: 'No, I did not know about that. I don't really know if I can lose my title without them informing me about it. 

'I still have the crown and I still have the sash. I have never been informed that I am not miss Denmark.' 

MailOnline has since confirmed with prosecutors in France and Switzerland that she is not under investigation. Mr Hamilton denied all claims that he had bullied her.

She is planning to sue her former for defamation once she returns from holiday in Thailand.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the former beauty queen described how miserable Mr Hamilton had made her feel: 'He made my life hell. He called me stupid, lazy and selfish.

'Sometimes I'd be scared to check my phone when I woke up because he sent me so many abusive messages.

In text messages to miss Mikkelsen's mother, he wrote: 'She [Miss Mikkelsen] is the worst title holder I've ever had. She's a spoiled brat, and you're the reason why.

Any real mother would have given her better guidance and direction, and told her there's more to life than money. You created a monster.' 

Dispute: Of the claims made by Miss Mikkelsen, pictured, Mr Hamilton, a former director of Face of Denmark, said: 'I did not bully her over a nine-month period. These claims are false.' 

Dispute: Of the claims made by Miss Mikkelsen, pictured, Mr Hamilton, a former director of Face of Denmark, said: 'I did not bully her over a nine-month period. These claims are false.' 

Insulted: Speaking while on holiday in Thailand, the 5ft 7in model revealed: 'Sometimes I'd be scared to check my phone when I woke up because he sent me so many abusive messages.'

Insulted: Speaking while on holiday in Thailand, the 5ft 7in model revealed: 'Sometimes I'd be scared to check my phone when I woke up because he sent me so many abusive messages.'

Criticism: In text messages to Miss Mikkelsen's mother, he wrote: 'She [Miss Mikkelsen] is the worst title holder I've ever had. She's a spoiled brat, and you're the reason why.'

Criticism: In text messages to Miss Mikkelsen's mother, he wrote: 'She [Miss Mikkelsen] is the worst title holder I've ever had. She's a spoiled brat, and you're the reason why.'

Dethronement: Miss Mikkelsen beams with delight as she is crowned Danish Miss Universe in May last year. She went on to the international final in the Philippines in January - but was stripped of her national title in February this year

Dethronement: Miss Mikkelsen beams with delight as she is crowned Danish Miss Universe in May last year. She went on to the international final in the Philippines in January - but was stripped of her national title in February this year

She went on: 'One day he would tell me I was gorgeous, the next he would say I look like a drag queen.'

'Every day he was telling me that there was no reason for me to go to Miss Universe, that no one would like me,' she said.

'And then some days he texted me that I was the best, that I could win.' 

Miss Mikkelsen said she was called 'selfish', 'stupid', 'ignorant' and 'lazy' by Mr Hamilton. He said she looks like a man dressed in women's clothes.

Demands: 5ft 7in Miss Mikkelsen, who only weighs eight stone five pounds, claimed Mr Hamilton told her to lose a further stone. He said he wanted her to shed 4kg, half a stone

Demands: 5ft 7in Miss Mikkelsen, who only weighs eight stone five pounds, claimed Mr Hamilton told her to lose a further stone. He said he wanted her to shed half a stone

The 5ft 7in model, who only weighs eight stone five pounds, said Mr Hamilton wanted her to lose a further stone before a pageant. Mr Hamilton insisted he wanted her to shed 4kg, half a stone. 

Mr Hamilton – who ran Face of Denmark with his former husband Anders de Voss – hit back, telling MailOnline: 'I did not bully her over a nine-month period. If that was the case, within that timespan, we took many photos together as recently as August, the last time I visited Denmark, that have been posted on social media. 

'In September, she wished me a happy birthday, previously in May and June, we travelled to Las Vegas together. These claims are false.'

He went on: 'Regarding the 'drag queen' remark, as a homosexual male, I see no problem comparing a beautiful female to a beautiful drag queen.' 

The American-born entrepreneur left his role in Face of Denmark in May last year but continued to work in a voluntary role until leaving this month.

His former husband Mr de Voss remains the owner of Face of Denmark. 

Of the comments to her mother, Mr Hamilton said: 'I believe a mother should guide their daughter in the right direction and allowing a 21-year-old girl to date a notorious dictators son, is not good direction or good parenting.'

Miss Mikkelsen, who posts stunning pictures on Instagram, became Danish Miss Universe in May last year, but lost out on the top international title of Miss Universe in the final in the Philippines in January.

Her former boyfriend Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, 47, the playboy son of the president of Equatorial Guinea, is being tried in Paris on charges of corruption, money laundering and embezzlement. 

Row: Face of Denmark told MailOnline Miss Mikkelsen, pictured, was stripped of her Danish Miss Universe crown for breach of contract over unauthorised media appearances. In a statement the beauty pageant also said it had been notified about allegations of money laundering concerning the model's ex-boyfriend Teodoro Obiang, son of the Equatorial Guinea president

Row: Face of Denmark told MailOnline Miss Mikkelsen, pictured, was stripped of her Danish Miss Universe crown for breach of contract over unauthorised media appearances. In a statement the beauty pageant also said it had been notified about allegations of money laundering concerning the model's ex-boyfriend Teodoro Obiang, son of the Equatorial Guinea president

Denial: Mr Hamilton, right, pictured with his former husband Anders de Voss, left, owner of Face of Denmark, resigned as company director in May, but continued to volunteer until he left earlier this month. 'I did not bully her over a nine-month period. These claims are false,' he said

Denial: Mr Hamilton, right, pictured with his former husband Anders de Voss, left, owner of Face of Denmark, resigned as company director in May, but continued to volunteer until he left earlier this month. 'I did not bully her over a nine-month period. These claims are false,' he said

Trial: Miss Mikkelsen's former boyfriend Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, 47, pictured left, the playboy son of the president of Equatorial Guinea, is being tried in Paris on charges of corruption, money laundering and embezzlement 

Trial: Miss Mikkelsen's former boyfriend Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, 47, pictured left, the playboy son of the president of Equatorial Guinea, is being tried in Paris on charges of corruption, money laundering and embezzlement 

Miss Mikkelsen, who now runs a beauty salon in Copenhagen, Denmark, met Obiang in 2013 but they separated three years later.

His $100million yacht, the Ebony Shine, was seized by investigators in January. A number of supercars found on board, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, an Aston Martin and a Bugatti were also impounded. 

Obiang has chronicled his life of luxury in hundreds of extraordinary social media posts showing him skiing, abseiling, scuba diving, walking with lions, partying with semi-naked women, sipping champagne and enjoying helicopter rides.

He is also seen driving super cars, top-of-the-range motorbikes, speed boats and submersibles around a series of palatial estates.

Posting under the name Teddy Nguema, often using the hashtag #luxuryliving, he revealed a life of astonishing wealth and privilege at a time when three quarters of the population of his tiny, oil-rich west African nation lived below the poverty line. 

Axed: The Face of Denmark also said that Miss Mikkelsen, pictured winning her title, was sacked for an alleged breach of contract over unauthorised media appearances she planned. She was informed of her sacking on Good Morning Denmark earlier this month. 

Axed: The Face of Denmark also said that Miss Mikkelsen, pictured winning her title, was sacked for an alleged breach of contract over unauthorised media appearances she planned. She was informed of her sacking on Good Morning Denmark earlier this month. 

But Face of Denmark boss Andres de Voss said she was stripped of her title for breaching her contract over unauthorised media appearances, not Obiang's case. 

Mr de Voss said: 'I made the decision to end the working relationship with Christina Mikkelsen, because she broke her contract with Face of Denmark, not based on any rumours.' 

Miss Mikkelsen said that the experience of being dethroned without warning on television was 'humiliating'.

'I was ambushed. I felt totally shocked and humiliated. It was the first I'd heard about it,' she said.  

In a statement after her sacking the company said: 'We were notified about allegations on money laundering concerning Miss Mikkelsen's ex-boyfriend.

'Being part of money laundering is a breach of our agreement. But allegations are just allegations until the opposite has been proven by the court. At that point the allegations were all about her ex-boyfriend's possible actions.

'However, when she then came back to Denmark we were informed that the allegations were now also concerning her actions. 

'Furthermore, we received information that she planned to do a media coverage on TV with hard criticism of the Danish pageant organisation. 

'We felt obliged to dethrone her in order to show the world that our organisation does not support the actions behind the allegations and that she has in several other points acted in breach with our contract.'

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