Miss Florida sues after being stripped of her crown 'because Instagram picture revealed professional stylist help' - but she says the photo was taken eight DAYS before pageant

  • Miss Florida, Genesis Davila is suing pageant after being stripped of crown
  • Davila, 24, was accused of breaking rules by using hair and makeup stylists
  • Her lawyer brought defamation lawsuit seeking $15 million and claimed that the Instagram photo was taken eight days before the pageant 
  • Executive producer of pageant Grant Gravitt cited photo as violation of pageant rules and said she 'sought an unfair competitive advantage'
  • Lawsuit also said Gravitt accused Davila of lying about her US citizenship forcing her to hire a lawyer to prove that she was a citizen of the US
  • Miss Sunny Isles Beach USA, Linette De Los Santos, who was runner-up, was given the crown after Davila was dethroned 

By Valerie Edwards For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:39 EST, 1 August 2016 | Updated: 01:35 EST, 2 August 2016

A former Miss Florida winner is suing the pageant after organizers took her crown and accused her of cheating.

Last month, Genesis Davila, 24, was accused of breaking pageant rules by getting her hair and make-up professionally done. 

But her attorneys filed the suit Monday, asking a Miami-Dade circuit judge to issue an emergency injunction restoring her title, according to the Miami Herald. 

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Miss Florida winner, Genesis Davila, 24,  is suing the pageant after organizers took her crown and accused her of cheating

Miss Florida winner, Genesis Davila, 24,  is suing the pageant after organizers took her crown and accused her of cheating

Last month, Davila (left) was accused of breaking pageant rules by getting her hair and make-up professionally done by stylists. This Instagram photo was cited by the executive producer of the pageant Grant Gravitt who said she violated the rules 

Last month, Davila (left) was accused of breaking pageant rules by getting her hair and make-up professionally done by stylists. This Instagram photo was cited by the executive producer of the pageant Grant Gravitt who said she violated the rules 

Grant Gravitt (pictured) said that the Puerto Rican model 'sought an unfair competitive advantage, and that's just not acceptable in our system'

Grant Gravitt (pictured) said that the Puerto Rican model 'sought an unfair competitive advantage, and that's just not acceptable in our system'

Davila's lawyer, Richard Wolfe, presented an enlarged photo of the Instagram post that pageant director Grant Gravitt cited as a violation of pageant rules. 

The photo Wolfe showed in a Monday press conference was dated for July 9, 2016, eight days before the contest, according to the lawsuit.

Davila was crowned Miss Florida on July 16 after competing against 64 other women but she was dethroned six days later. 

'I am innocent. All these false allegations have taken me completely by surprise,' Davila said during the press conference. 

'I am honest and hard-working.'

Wolfe said that Gravitt had cropped out the date on the Instagram post to falsely smear Davila's name, as he presented the case for a defamation lawsuit seeking $15 million, along with the return of her crown, according to the Herald. 

'She didn't have a professional hair and makeup person. She did it herself,' Wolfe said at the press conference. 

'No one is going to have their hair and makeup done nine days in advance of a pageant.'

Miss Florida USA released a statement saying they couldn't comment on pending litigation. 

After Davila was stripped of her crown, the title went to Linette de los Santos. 

The photo Wolfe showed in a Monday press conference was dated for July 9, 2016, eight days before the contest, according to the lawsuit. Davila is pictured receiving the crown 

The photo Wolfe showed in a Monday press conference was dated for July 9, 2016, eight days before the contest, according to the lawsuit. Davila is pictured receiving the crown 

Davila was crowned Miss Florida on July 16 after competing against 64 other women but she was dethroned six days later. Miss Florida USA released a statement saying they couldn't comment on pending litigation

Davila was crowned Miss Florida on July 16 after competing against 64 other women but she was dethroned six days later. Miss Florida USA released a statement saying they couldn't comment on pending litigation

De Los Santos was born in the Dominican Republic and she's also a student at Nova Southeastern University law school. 

The person wearing the crown will represent Florida at the Miss USA pageant. 

According to the lawsuit, Gravitt also accused Davila of lying about her US citizenship forcing her to hire a lawyer to prove that she was indeed a citizen of the US. 

Davila was born in Puerto Rico. 'Let me remind you, Puerto Rico is part of this country,' Wolfe said. 

Gravitt initially said that the Puerto Rican model 'sought an unfair competitive advantage, and that's just not acceptable in our system'.

'We have a zero-tolerance policy on rules. Whether it's something major or minor, it's all about keeping an equal and level playing field.'

According to the lawsuit, Gravitt also accused Davila of lying about her US citizenship forcing her to hire a lawyer to prove that she was indeed a citizen of the US 

According to the lawsuit, Gravitt also accused Davila of lying about her US citizenship forcing her to hire a lawyer to prove that she was indeed a citizen of the US 

Initially Gravitt said they were able to obtain 'substantial proof' that she violated the rules after pageant organizers received complaints from contestants

Initially Gravitt said they were able to obtain 'substantial proof' that she violated the rules after pageant organizers received complaints from contestants

When Davila was stripped of her title Gravitt said she had made a 'poor life choice' when she decided to use professional stylists to help her with hair and makeup in her private room. 

The Miss Miami Beach USA model posted on Instagram: 'DREAMING on a cloud,' shortly after she won the crown.

Pageant organizers received complaints from contestants and there were also eyewitnesses, Gravitt told 10 News. 

Gravitt said they were able to obtain 'substantial proof to link her and her vendors to her room on an evening which they were not allowed'.

 Her lawyers said that Gravitt had cropped out the date on the Instagram post to falsely smear Davila's name

 Her lawyers said that Gravitt had cropped out the date on the Instagram post to falsely smear Davila's name

The lawsuit is seeking $15 million in defamation and for the return of her crown 

The lawsuit is seeking $15 million in defamation and for the return of her crown 

Davila, a five-foot-10 model, is signed with Front Management. In 2014 she was crowned Miss World Puerto Rico

Davila, a five-foot-10 model, is signed with Front Management. In 2014 she was crowned Miss World Puerto Rico

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