Irish runner-up gets \`Mrs World\` title as Jurie quits after controversy

The reigning 'Mrs World'_ Caroline Jurie_ has returned her crown of her own accord weeks after an on-stage hullabaloo in which she pulled the crown off the head of the winner of the Mrs Sri Lanka beauty pageant_ organisers said.

"Her voluntary resignation decision was made solely by Caroline herself_" Mrs World Inc said in a news release on social media on Wednesday.

Organisers assured_ Kate Schneider of Ireland_ the runner-up in the 2020 contest_ will be the new Mrs World 2020.

Jurie relinquished her title earlier this month_ while defending her decision to remove the crown from the head of this year s Mrs Sri Lanka titleholder_ Pushpika de Silva_ who she claimed was unqualified to take part in the April 4 contest because she was divorced.

De Silva said that she is separated but not divorced_ from her husband_ though court proceedings are continuing.

"Being apart is one. Divorce is something else_" she posted on social media.

Jurie_ who is also Sri Lankan_ was accused of injuring de Silva in the televised pageant. Four days later_ she was arrested on charges of 'simple hurt and criminal force' and later released on bail.

Jurie said she was standing against 'injustice' and that the pageant was 'tainted.' She said she wanted to ensure that every contestant had an equal opportunity.

De Silva alleges that Jurie injured her while trying to remove the crown. She was again given the crown on Monday by the organisers_ who disputed Jurie s claims that de Silva is ineligible.

Contestants in the Mrs World_ a beauty pageant for married women and Mrs Sri Lanka are required to be married. De Silva is eligible to compete for the Mrs World crown after winning her national title.

Jurie was not immediately reachable for comment.