Miss Delaware loses crown over her age

DOVER, Del. -- Pageant officials say the woman named Miss Delaware less than two weeks ago will lose her crown because she older than the Miss America organization allows.

Twenty-four-year Amanda Longacre was crowned June 14, WDEL-AM, reports. Longacre will turn 25 on Oct. 22, before year's end. According to its website, Miss America pageant rules require contestants to be between the ages of 17 and 24.

Carolyn Nelson, media relations coordinator for the Miss Delaware organization, tells The State News in Dover that Longacre did nothing wrong and had accurately reported her birthdate on applications.

Longacre will lose the $9,000 scholarship. She tells The State News that she has now nothing to show for her efforts in competing in the pageant.

First runner-up Brittany Lewis will be awarded the crown Thursday night.