Miss America Was Booted From Her Sorority For Brutal Hazing — Did The Pageant Try To Cover It Up?

While Miss New York Kira Kazantsev enjoys the short burst of fame that the Miss America pageant still affords, she may have to fight off some new information that has come to the surface to tarnish her reputation. Records show that Miss America Kazantsev was booted from her sorority in late April 2013 for abusive hazing practices, reported Jezebel.

Jezebel first became suspicious that there was something being hidden about the new Miss America when Kira’s old sorority Alpha Phi conspicuously did not commend her win in any major public way. Upon further investigation, inside sources told Jezebel why the sorority was taking a step back from Miss America.

“After returning from her fall 2012 study abroad semester in Spain, Kazantsev began her term as Alpha Phi’s Recruitment Committee President for the incoming pledges. [The future Miss America] and her best friend (another Alpha Phi sister who was also her roommate), our source says, were exceptionally harsh toward the pledges. (In the tipster’s words, they made the recruits’ lives “a living hell.”) Under Kira’s supervision, according to the source, pledges in the incoming class were called names, berated for their perceived physical flaws and imperfections, and made to perform physical tasks to the point of bruising and exhaustion—standard sorority pledge stuff paid forward by a person who our source says was herself brutally hazed upon entry into Alpha Phi.”

The Miss America organization has released a statement saying that they were aware from Kira’s expulsion from the sorority for abusive hazing and supported her win despite it.

“Kira has been fully transparent with the Miss America Organization about her termination from the Alpha Phi sorority. It’s unfortunate that this incident has 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 MissAmerica 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.”

Despite publishing the accusations, Jezebel did note what a clean record Kazantsev had apart from the abusive hazing blight — one that would almost otherwise make her an ideal Miss America.

“Kazantsev is well-spoken, quick on her feet, and perky. She’s the third consecutive Miss New York to win the title of Miss America, and she did with the added handicap of a hammy Anna Kendrick impression. In the days since she earned the crown, Kazantsev has diplomatically but firmly addressed the loud-mouthed buffoons who have taken issue with her past internship at Planned Parenthood, telling Cosmopolitan, ‘It was close to my university and I care about women’s health. It’s really important that teens know what resources are available to them and learn to be respectful of their bodies and other peoples’ bodies.'”

Do you think Miss America Kira Kazantsev still deserves her crown in light of the abusive hazing accusations?

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