Amy Polumbo Miss New Jersey’s Photo Scandal Blackmail
December 19th, 2006 Posted by: Dr. Cox
News broke about Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo being blackmailed with photos that she originally posted on the web – news that, unsurprisingly, was promptly splayed on New York City tabloids. Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo won the title on June 16th and just nine days later, June 25th, received a mysterious package in the mail stuffed with photos of herself (she says they’re not scandalous in nature) and a note saying that the photos will be published unless she relinquishes her crown to first runner-up Ronica Licciardello.
Amy Polumbo’s lawyer, Anthony Caruso, says the pictures show the 22-year-old Howell resident with some friends. And although he won’t say what they depict, Caruso says they may be photos she posted years ago on a private Internet site. Caruso said he will ask state and federal authorities to track down the extortionist, whom he guessed is “someone close to Amy,” the newspaper said.
“I don’t think the photos are that bad,” said Caruso, who would not describe their content further. “The people posting this blackmail scheme are trying to make these photos out to be worse than I think they are.”
“Not now, not ever,” was Polumbo’s response at Thursday afternoon’s press conference at Asbury Park’s Paramount Theater. “In fact, I am more committed to … uphold the title of Miss New Jersey in a manner to which it deserves.” She says she won‘t give in to an anonymous threat that personal photographs of her will be made public if she refuses to relinquish her crown.
What’s odd is the pictures, reportedly from her Facebook page, are not revealing at least according to people close to her. Polumbo’s aunt told E! Online that the 22-year-old showed more in her swimsuit competition. But there must be something at least risque about the pictures for Polumbo to hold a news conference and ask state and federal law enforcement for help.
Miss America Organization officials say they’re aware of the situation, but it was up to the New Jersey pageant officials to deal with. The local affiliate did not immediately return a message Thursday from The Associated Press. But Caruso said the state competition officials were on board with her trying to fight back.
Photographs of a questionable nature have plagued contestants of beauty pageant and talent competitions, from the infamous photographs of Vanessa Williams that caused her to relinquish her Miss America crown to the more recent racy Internet pictures of local American Idol contestant Antonella Barba.
