ABCFirst comes the crown...then comes the criticism.
Just over one week after Miss New York Kira Kazantsev took home the highly coveted title of Miss America 2014 at the annual beauty pageant, the 23-year-old blonde bombshell is already facing backlash.
A report surfaced today claiming that the aspiring law student was kicked out of the Alpha Phi sorority at Hofstra University on Long Island for hazing pledges, where, at the time, she was reportedly serving as her sorority's head of recruitment.
But don't expect the negative media buzz to become a pageant scandal, as the Miss America Organization has released a statement in defense of the newly crowned beauty queen.
"Kira has been very open and candid about her termination from the Alpha Phi sorority," a Miss America Organization Spokesperson tells E! News. "It's unfortunate that this incident and unsourced allegations have been exploited to create a storyline that distracts from what we should be focusing on: Kira's impressive academic achievements at Hofstra University, including earning a triple major from the Honors College and her commitment to serving her community. Kira is an exceptional ambassador for the Miss America Organization, and we are excited to be a part of her journey as a force for good across our nation, promoting education and service and working to empower young women."
Following the eyebrow-raising hazing reports, Linda Kahangi, the executive director for the Alpha Phi International Fraternity, confirmed to E! News "that newly crowned Miss America, Kira Kazantsev, was a collegiate member of its Theta Mu chapter at Hofstra University but is no longer a member of the organization."
However, the organization would not comment on the reasoning behind her termination. "Our privacy policy does not allow us to comment on details related to membership status changes; further questions should be directed to Ms. Kazantsev," Kahangi said.
During her time at Hofstra University, the gorgeous stunner triple-majored in political science, global studies and geography. She maintained a 3.6 GPA and has reportedly been accepted to Fordham University's Law School, where, according to her website, she "plans to pursue work in women's issues and international diplomacy."
Meanwhile, the trilingual New Yorker, who originally hails from California and is an advocate for ending domestic abuse, has yet to personally comment on the allegations.