A candidate of Miss World Philippines cried foul after a fellow candidate pointed fingers at her as the source of rumors that some girls in the pageant were allegedly doing drugs.
"I was really hurt. Iba yung effect sa akin na lahat ng nasa environment mo ay galit sa'yo. Parang I just want to go home," said Joy Barcoma, during a Zoom interview with the entertainment press on July 28.
Joy added: "I want a public apology and clear my name. I was bullied at some point hindi ako pinapansin. Hindi talaga maganda. Hindi ako ang gumawa nun."
"I want to take action kasi ayoko ng maulit ito sa ibang candidate," she said.
"I am here to tell my experience and alleviate my situation. I'm not here to attract attention," she added.
Asked if she believes that some girls were really into drugs, Joy said: "I don't think so. I've known them and I don't think they would do drugs."
Joy also said that it would be up to the MWP Organization if the candidates would undergo drug tests just to clear everything. MWP is her first national pageant.
The beauty queen said that she only wants an apology from the candidate who allegedly accused her of spreading the rumor. She refused to identify the fellow candidate. "I want a public apology from her."
In 2017, Joy won the Miss Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) title. Later, she was crowned Miss Philippine Islands. In 2018, she second at Miss Mandaluyong pageant.
The grand coronation of Miss World Philippines 2021 pageant has been scheduled on Aug. 8.