Miss World 2016 Stephanie del Valle is allegedly being sued by the government of the Municipality of Rio Grande for fraud and embezzlement of public funds.
Read below.
El Gobierno de Puerto Rico y el Municipio de Río Grande otorgaron más de $1.2 millones provenientes de fondos públicos a una entidad que tan temprano como en octubre de 2021 no tenía la capacidad para llevar a cabo la final del concurso internacional de belleza Miss Mundo que estaba pautado para celebrarse en diciembre de ese mismo año.
Así consta en una demanda presentada hoy ante el Tribunal de San Juan en manos del equipo de investigación de Cuarto Poder (Wapa TV) en la que se alega que la ex Miss Mundo Puerto Rico, Stephanie Del Valle y su corporación Reignite “no poseía la capacidad financiera, el personal ni la experiencia para llevar a cabo el concurso” por lo que subcontrató a la compañía Puerto Rico With a Purpose L3C para transferir todos los fondos de patrocinio públicos y privados para que llevaran a cabo el concurso.
Reignite emitió tres cheques que suman la cantidad de $1,225,000.00, pero alega la demanda que la compañía cometió fraude porque ordenó de inmediato a su banco que detuviera el pago y los cheques fueron rechazados cuando fueron depositados por Puerto Rico With a Purpose L3C.
Como resultado, “la malversación y retención indebida” de los fondos ha puesto en peligro la celebración del concurso Miss Mundo en Puerto Rico programada para el próximo 16 de marzo de 2022.
“Los daños que está causando y puede continuar causando Reignite serían irreparables, ya que el no poderse celebrar la Final del Concurso de Miss World 2021, constituiría un daño irreparable a la Parte Demandante, para las concursantes que representan otros países en el mundo, para los múltiples compromisos económicos de múltiples personas naturales y jurídicas, así como del Pueblo de Puerto Rico”, reza la demanda.
Este portal de noticias intentó comunicarse con la ex Miss Mundo Puerto Rico, Stephanie Del Valle y con otro oficial de su compañía, pero al momento de esta publicación no se ha recibido respuesta.
Via Google Translate:
The Government of Puerto Rico and the Municipality of Río Grande granted more than $1.2 million from public funds to an entity that as early as October 2021 did not have the capacity to carry out the final of the Miss World international beauty pageant that was scheduled to be held in December of the same year.
This is stated in a lawsuit filed today before the Court of San Juan in the hands of the investigation team of Cuarto Poder (Wapa TV) in which it is alleged that the former Miss World Puerto Rico, Stephanie Del Valle and her corporation Reignite “did not possess the financial capacity, personnel or experience to carry out the contest” for which it subcontracted to the company Puerto Rico With a Purpose L3C to transfer all public and private sponsorship funds to carry out the contest.
Reignite issued three checks totaling $1,225,000.00, but the lawsuit alleges that the company committed fraud because it immediately ordered its bank to stop payment and the checks were bounced when deposited by Puerto Rico With a Purpose L3C.
As a result, “the embezzlement and improper withholding” of the funds has jeopardized the celebration of the Miss World contest in Puerto Rico scheduled for March 16, 2022.
“The damage that Reignite is causing and may continue to cause would be irreparable, since not being able to hold the Final of the Miss World 2021 Contest would constitute irreparable damage to the Claimant, to the contestants representing other countries in the world, to the multiple economic commitments of multiple natural and legal persons, as well as the People of Puerto Rico,” reads the lawsuit.
This news portal tried to communicate with the former Miss World Puerto Rico, Stephanie Del Valle and with another official from her company, but at the time of this publication no response has been received.
normannorman.com 
My take on this issue:
1. Since this involves government fund, I suppose this project went through bidding process. Why did the Municipality of Rio Grande award the project to an entity with no financial capability to carry out the project. Was the Municipality of Rio Grande not prudent enough in checking the financial and logistical capacities of bidding entities?
2. Possible reasons for terminating the subcontract, in this case between Reignite and BWAP L3C
A. Reignite is short of fund
B. Reignite loses its trust in BWAP L3C
3. This is a very serious problem which MWO should solve ASAP considering MW finals is nearing.
@ serge As per first point, maybe state procurement laws/guidelines are not very stringent?
(But we need to be careful, too, not to rush to conclusions. We don’t know the whole story.)
Needless to say, a Puerto Rico (anywhere else in the country, no thanks to this) hosting is no longer feasible for the most part. Imho, Mdme. JM just needs to return to home base & hold the pageant as before, in the UK. Iraos~itawid na lang! What Step del Valle does not need now is more drama.
So kaya pala ganun na lang ka disorganized yung logistics nila during the pre-pageant activities!
Let me guess, kung sa Miss Earth nangyari yan, curse to death na mga pageant admins sa IG, si Nawat at Global Beauties sa pagkondena!
Pero dahil Miss World yan at ang may-ari eh isang puting hamster siempre palalampasin na lang and will let it die like a natural death!
@ ClaiRe IbbeTson White hamster, Mademoiselle?
Palaisipan… 🙂
Well, we are now in general agreement that MEO was the wisest of all. Bravo to them! That recent assembly of four Earth queens in the flesh – Espin of Ecuador, Wagner of Belize, Pimentel of P.R., & Coffey of the USA – was a branding coup de grace! Only MSA last year was better.
In my Ricky Ricardo ego: Aye-aye-aye-aye-aye
Karma bites.
matapos bigyan ng corona ganon ganon na lang ang ginawa nila. yikes
Im shockingly shocked. Gosh!
Maiging malaman muna natin ang mga bagay bagay mula sa kanilang spokesperson djto sa Pilipinas na si Paul. O Paula ano na? Kakaloka. Ha ha ha Ikaw yata ang nagpapamalas sa mga hina-hype mo. Ha ha ha. Aalatin pa ang super push mo na si Tracy Perez sa pangarap niyang korona.
Dios Mio.
As Shakespeare would have said, something is rotten in the state of Puerto Rico. A messy edition indeed.
And yes, crowning someone with a huge fans following like the Philippines will be a good move to cover the stench.
Question is do we want our Tracy Perez be associated with this edition , and from Tracy Perez be Trashy Perish? Lol.
Good Luck Tracy!
World Peace.
Daming drama ng pageant ni Lola Julia!!!! I feel bad for the winner- so much negative publicity to deal with indirectly. Me thinks crowing Tracy would be good publicity for her… hihihih
Uh Oh …