THE winner of the Miss Cornwall beauty contest has been stripped of the title after he turned out to be from Devon.
Bill McKay, 38, claimed he was from Truro but actually lives in Tiverton.
McKay, an unemployed pipe fitter, was due to represent the county in the finals of the Miss England contest in August. He has now returned the £2000 prize money and a 12 month modelling contract.
He said: “It was a foolish mistake, but when I only got as far as the third qualifying round of Miss Devon I was desperate to keep my dream alive.
“I put a false address on the form and I also ticked the box confirming that I have only ever had one set of grandparents.
“Even then I didn’t think I would win. There are some really lovely looking blokes in Cornwall.”
Event organiser Roy Hobbs said it was the biggest shock to hit the Miss Cornwall contest since 1977, when it was won by a woman.
He added: “Oh, she was a corker. Graceful, elegant and with thick, hairy arms and a strong moustache.
“I loved her so, but she was already betrothed to her uncle Brian. I’ll never forget you Fern Britton.”
The Miss Cornwall crown will be transferred to first runner up Wayne Hayes, a mackerel wiper from Padstow, while the second prize now goes to a six year-old Great Dane called Ian.
