Though style will always trump comfort for beauty pageant contestants, a pair of shoes got one beauty queen in trouble with the law.
Prescribed an orthopedic shoe and crutches to treat a fractured toe she allegedly suffered while working at a supermarket, Shawna Lynn Palmer, 22, appeared to have no trouble strutting her stuff in high heels and a bikini while competing to become Miss Toyota at the Long Beach Grand Prix in California, according to press reports.
But rather than taking home the tiara, Ms. Palmer earned a pair of handcuffs after Insurance Department authorities learned of her performance, which occurred while she was collecting workers compensation disability benefits. Ms. Palmer was later released on $5,000 bail after she was charged with three felony counts of insurance fraud, authorities reported. If convicted, Ms. Palmer could serve up to one year in prison.
People prefer cash to coins, especially when the payout is thousands of dollars delivered by the bucketload.