Yendi Phillipps - Contributed

Andrew Collins, head of Invyte Productions, the organisers of Miss Jamaica Universe 2010, has dismissed as "rubbish", claims that Yendi Phillipps, the newly crowned queen, was paid to enter the competition and promised the win.

Following last Saturday's coronation show, in which Phillipps was announced as the new Miss Jamaica Universe, the Internet has been buzzing with reports that the pageant was fixed and that the organisers had guaranteed Phillipps the crown.

One page on the popular networking site, Facebook, saw many of Phillipps' heated fans and detractors squaring off and trading insults over the topic. Many argued that the pageant was not fairly judged and that Phillipps should not have been allowed to enter, while others heaped congratulations on the new queen.

Surprise, surprise!

One picture posted on the site, showing Phillipps wearing her new crown, drew much attention, with one user posting: "Why am I not surprised." Another wrote: "Surprise, surprise! - in the most sarcastic voice known to man." Yet another user asked: "Why is she acting surprised? She dun know she would win already."

Another angry user debated that Phillipps should not have been allowed to enter the pageant. She said: "How the hell she did her best when she didn't need to try and win. She has experience where it was concerned whereas the others didn't. She should not have entered full stop!" This sentiment was also echoed by another user who said: "Yu a tell me seh none a de rest a contestant dem never measure up to choose someone else? Come on man! I saw the contest and I know there were other girls there who could be given a chance too."

Attempts to get a comment from Phillipps yesterday proved futile.

When contacted, Cox said he had not heard of this recent spate of rumours, but said Phillipps herself had told him from the start of the pageant that persons were saying it was fixed.

He said, "That is rubbish! We had a distinguished panel of judges and they made their decision based off her question and answer, her physique and the other criteria that we demanded of them. That is just rubbish." He said Phillipps, in the eye of the judges, was the best person to represent the pageant and he was supportive of their decision.

But while most were critical, there were some persons who offered encouraging words to the queen. One such person wrote: "Congratulations Yendi, yu tried hard an yu won again. Don't be upset about who is spreading propaganda, yu just do what u have to do an do your best. You are going to be a winner an always a winner. I wish you all the best an great luck."