March 25: In a recent unfortunate turn of events, gone largely unnoticed by the international fashion-watching community, Maya Frigerio was dethroned Miss Universe Aruba 2005 by Star Promotions, Aruba's organisers of Miss Universe Aruba 2005.

Star Promotions claimed that Maya Frigerio failed to perform her duties as Miss Universe Aruba so as to be able to participate in Miss Universe 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand (Date: May 30, 2005)

Maya wrote a letter to Diario-Aruba.com in which she states her side of the story. The letter was initially in Papiamento. A translated version of the letter has been put up at http://criticalbeauty.com/Maya_Frigerio_Letter.html

According to Maya Frigerio, her proposed three-week trip to Holland for studies came as a turning point. "They (Star Promotions) demanded that I cancel my trip because my participation in Miss Universe is more important than my studies. They were willing to settle for a week, but three weeks was out of the question. If I stayed with my plan to go for three weeks, then the consequence would be that I would no longer be participating in Miss Universe."

She claims that her lawyer later informed Star that she won't be participating in Miss Universe 2005 pageant in Bangkok.

There is another twist to the story. Maya Frigerio had a tattoo on her lower back, and she claims she was convinced by the pageant organisers that Miss Universe delegates cannot have visible tattoos on the body. She found out that laser removal of tattoo was the best option, for which, she says, Star Promotions recommended a Colombian doctor. The doctor apparently tried surgical removal of the tattoo, leaving a scar. Later, she says, she found out that there is no such bar for Miss Universe 2005 delegates. The purpose of her visit to Holland included, besides studies, to find a physician who would fix the scar.