Davina 'snubbed' us - Uzuri International denies shunning former queen

Uzuri International Limited and the Miss Universe Jamaica organisation have released a statement they hope will answer questions about Davina Bennett's absence from the coronation show at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel last Friday.

Just hours before Bennett was expected to hand over the crown, it was revealed that she was not invited to the coronation and would not be able to carry on the tradition of handing over the coveted crown to the new queen.

"I feel duty bound and compelled to inform my fellow Jamaicans and my beloved fans worldwide that Uzuri has chosen not to include me in this year's coronation, August 24, 2018, following our parting of ways in February 2018," Bennett said in her press release.

Her revelation caused a huge backlash on social media as users felt it was disrespectful of the organisers not to extend an invitation to her.

However, in their statement to the public on Monday, Uzuri International said that as the reigning queen, Bennett needed no invitation.

They then went on to say that it was very unfortunate that Bennett released a statement saying the organisation 'chose' to exclude her from the show as they would have wanted nothing more than to have her participate in Friday's show.

The statement further said Bennett chose to distance herself from the organisation. Using statements made by the former queen earlier this year, the organisers explained that Bennett sought to cut all ties with the pageant when she asked that they not share content related to her on their social media pages.

"You will note from the social media posts of Ms Bennett that immediately upon her return from the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, she dropped all references to her title as Miss Universe Jamaica and has only kept her title as the second runner-up to Miss Universe," Uzuri said in the statement.

The pageant organisers say they will now focus their attention on grooming 19-year-old Emily Maddison who was crowned last Friday night.

They urged Jamaicans to throw their support behind her as she readies herself for the global pageant set to take place in December.