Miss Universe Australia winner Rachael Finch is reportedly facing the sack after complaints she made about her contract with the pageant organisation were leaked to the media.
Media reports about a leaked letter sent by Ms Finch to Miss Universe's American arm could create grounds for her to be stripped of her crown, The Sunday Mail newspaper reports.
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"Under the (Miss Universe Australia) contract, bringing the brand into disrepute is grounds for instant dismissal," the newspaper quotes an unnamed Miss Universe source as saying.
In the letter, the 20-year-old Sydney beauty claims she was rushed into signing a three-year exclusive contract by Miss Universe Australia, adding that it had become like a "prison sentence".
"I had not slept in the last 24 hours, was about to speak to an international audience on television and was being told to 'hurry darl'," the letter said.
"In my world, most nights I lay in bed for hours, crying, trying to come to terms with what I have to now deal with."
Ms Finch, who was crowned in April, has refused to comment publicly about her claims, but is reportedly devastated that they were leaked to the media.
Miss Universe Australia national director Deborah Miller refused to confirm to The Sunday Mail if Ms Finch was facing the sack over her controversy.
"Technically you cannot bring the pageant into disrepute," she told the newspaper.
"I just want this resolved in a win-win situation … we have to do the best thing for the pageant in Australia," she said.
Ms Miller said she had no idea Ms Finch was unhappy in her role until contacted by journalists last week.
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