Little Miss Hispanic winner loses title in Del.
The winner of the Little Miss Hispanic Delaware contest has been stripped of her crown over concerns that she’s not Hispanic.
The Journal News of Wilmington says 7-year-old Jakiya McKoy lost the title two weeks ago.
Some critics of the decision say it was made because McKoy is black and not Latina enough.
Pageant organizers require contestants to be at least 25 percent Hispanic.
Maria Perez, president of Nuestras Raices, says the verification the child brought “does not specify she was 25 percent Hispanic or Hispanic at all.” She says the decision has nothing to do with skin color.
Daniel Jose Older, who started a Change.org petition, says McKoy’s grandmother was born in the Dominican Republic and lived illegally in the United States before she died.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.