The Home Journal

Contest Winner Given Dirty Deal,

Nanice Monk, 19, chosen as 'Miss U.S. Pageant' in a contest held in New York recently, has charged that she has gotten a "dirty deal," and accused John H. Young, the promoter of the contest, of being a welcher in connection with prizes promised her. Miss Monk stopped off here in a tour of the Caribbean.

Miss Monk said that promoter Young had given her only $224 for a round-trip ticket covering St. Thomas and St. Croix, via San Juan, Jamaica and Havana. She said she had spent over $300 of her own money and said that among the prizes she had not received was a traveling wardrobe. A chaperone who was to accompany her on the tour was also not seen, she asserted.

In a statement to the press, Miss Monk said she would like to sue Young, but said she would wait until she gets home before making any decision. She emphasized that the contest will have to be stopped, declaring that it is bad for Caribbean-American goodwill. When I arrived in Kingston, Jamaica no one knew I was coming, and when I reach Havana I don't know where'll be staying, she disclosed.

While here in St. Thomas Miss Monk received $200. She said Mr. Young wanted $150 of it as his 'fee.' Miss Monk refused to send him any money.

There has been considerable criticism of the manner in which the contest was conducted, and it is not expected that it will get the support it enjoyed this year, if it is held again.