A MISS York finalist has been thrown out of the competition, after it was discovered she has posed as a nude model.

Laura Rafferty won through to the final of the glamorous competition, which gives the winner a shot at the Miss England title, but was disqualified after nude pictures of her appeared on two internet modelling websites.

Miss York rules of entry strictly state that participants must not have posed nude or topless for a professional photographer. Today, Vivienne Lee, Miss York organiser, said she had no alternative, but to disqualify Laura for breaking the rules of entry.

"She has to be disqualified. The rules of the competition are clear as are the rules of entry for Miss England," she said.

"We are governed by the rules of Miss World, and contestants must not have had anything in their past that would bring the competition, or its organisation, into disrepute."

In 2003, The Press revealed how 21-year-old Laura was struck down by meningitis, leaving her in intensive care for eight days and deaf in her left ear. She said she had no idea that pictures of her had been put on the internet and thought she had been "betrayed" by someone she knew.

But she did concede that the pictures had been taken. She said she was even more disappointed because she made the competition finals, to be held on June 16 at the Grand Opera House, at the last minute.

"Obviously I am gutted to be kicked out of the competition. I am more disappointed that someone I know has betrayed me," she said.

"I will find out who did this, and I just wish I had never entered the competition in the first place. I would persuade other people to think twice." The riding enthusiast has previously said she hopes to study equine management and equitation at Askham Bryan or Bishop Burton College from September.

She is also currently rehearsing a role in York Shakespeare Project's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which is being held at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre in July.

  • Another contestant, Jennifer Porter, a student, had to pull out of the competition at the last minute because she has an exam in Hull.