The board of Miss Belgium has dismissed East Flanders contestant Flore Pensaert over "misconduct," according to Le Soir.
The organisation has however refuted her claim that her disqualification stemmed from her nude modelling work.
Controversy over suspension
Pensaert, who is Miss East Flanders 2023, sparked controversy after suggesting in an interview that voters for her would receive nude photos. The 25-year-old later recanted those claims, stating that the photos would only reveal her in bikini attire.
Pensaert defended herself on social media, stating that her suspension was due to her work as a nude model, and a photo shoot in Paris deemed inappropirate by the Miss Belgium committee.
The dethroned Miss Belgium aspirant stated her nude modelling would "never be used for garnering votes," despite its potential to "break taboos."
However, according to Darline Devos, the President of Miss Belgium, Pensaert was removed due to other reasons. Devos said, "Flore Pensaert was not disqualified because of her nude photos, but because of an offensive slur she used against me on Instagram." Devos concluded, "Such disrespect destroys collaboration."
