Judge Dismisses $3 Million Lawsuit From Dethroned Miss Puerto Rico

Kristhielee Caride violated the terms of her contract, according to judge.

By Diana Marti Sep 15, 2016 1:15 AMTags
Kristhielee Caride, Miss Puerto RicoFacebook

Kristhielee Caride will not be $3 million richer, and she won't get back her Miss Puerto Rico title after a judge threw out the lawsuit that she filed. 

Superior Court Judge Eduardo Rebollo stated in his ruling that Caride's behavior violated the terms of her contract with PR Crown Entertainment. "Her dismissal was justified and does not merit the restitution of her title as Miss Puerto Rico in the international beauty pageant of Miss Universe," Rebollo said, according to Telemundo.

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In April, Caride filed a lawsuit for an alleged breach of contract and contractual damages. The beauty queen asked to regain her title and to receive all of the prizes that she won. She also asked for $3 million for damages. 

Desiree Lowry, the national director of Miss Universe Puerto Rico, testified and said that she asked Caride to apologize for her noncooperative behavior with reporters, but that Caride refused to do so. She also stated that Caride did not use the salon that they provided and that she would just use her own stylists instead.

Brenda Jimenez, the pageant's first runner-up, replaced the 25-year-old and became Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2016. And although pageant drama isn't rare, it was the first time that a contestant had lost her crown in the history of the island. Miss Puerto Rico 1994, Brenda Robles, was dismissed during her reign because she was pregnant.

Caride's lawyer commented on the ruling saying, "This wasn't a surprise for me, rights and justice don't always prevail in a trial. From my point of view, I am not surprised by Rebollo's decision. It is an erroneous, wrong decision."