The 21-year-old has spoken out and revealed just how hurt she is by these reports.
According to The Sowetan, 15 contestants banded together to expose the fact that Demi-Leigh had a long standing relationship with two of this year’s Miss SA judges: Claudia Henkel and Melinda Bam. The aggrieved contestants believe she gained preferential treatment as a result of this partnership.
Nel-Peters spoke to the press less than 24 hours after the scandal was publicised and she flatly denied any foul play in her campaign to be this year’s Miss South Africa. She said:
"Of course it does hurt to hear these allegations. I believe that all the girls really put their hundred percent into this competition, it was a tough competition. I completely deny those allegations, because it is really not true. The only interactions I had with the judges were during the official judging sessions and all the girls were present”.
Claudia Henkel also distanced herself from these reports when she said:
“There was no favouritism. Not from me. Not from any of the judges. We did not share our scores or even discuss any of the contestants and the results were independently audited,"
