Bogota, Aug 10 (IANS): The Miss Colombia beauty pageant has barred a contestant from the title clash because of her alleged ties with a Mexican drug trafficker, reports EFE.
Laura Marcela Cantillo, 19, who would have represented the Caribbean resort city of Cartagena, is not registered for the contest.
Colombian media said the beauty was kept out of the pageant because a drug trafficker sponsored the 2008 Maja Colombia competition which she won.
The disappointed candidate's family accused "malicious people" of sullying her name with no proof of any wrongdoing.
Cantillo is studying engineering at the Technological University of Bolivar in Cartagena.
The beauty pageant in which Miss Colombia is chosen each November in Cartagena attracts more viewers than practically any other TV programme in the country.