2008 Woodie Awards
Freshman pageant queen dethroned after hookah pictures surface
Maggie Rhynes
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: News
A first-time puff on a hookah has led to the end of SIUE freshman Ann Knight's reign as a pageant queen.
Knight was crowned Miss Tuscola in March, but the crown was revoked when photos of her smoking hookah were presented to the Tuscola Chamber of Commerce board.
The chamber voted that Knight's actions were a breech of contract. Knight, however, said she wasn't aware she was breeching her contract.
"I truly did not know I was violating the contract." She said. "I knew I was not supposed to drink or smoke weed. I don't even smoke; I actually have asthma."
Hookah is the name of a water pipe used to inhale flavored tobacco. Hookah lounges and cafes are growing in popularity and a number of them exist in the St. Louis area.
Knight, who is 18 and legally allowed to smoke tobacco, says she must have overlooked the no smoking portion on the contract.
"Evidentially it is in the contract and I just overlooked it," she said. "Probably because I don't smoke."
Photos of the queen smoking hookah were posted to Facebook, which Knight and her friends saw no harm in as everyone pictured was over 18. Printed copies of those photos were submitted to the Tuscola Chamber of Commerce and the matter was discussed at a chamber meeting. Knight says she was unaware that the chamber had seen the photos or was discussing them until she received a phone call informing her that she was being relived of her duties.
The Tuscola Chamber of Commerce president released a statement that says the matter is only between the chamber and Knight.
Knight was surprised by the chambers actions but said she was assured that the matter would remain "low key." The first reports of Knight losing her crown ran in local newspapers that same day.
"They left it open in the paper, as to what I had done, so everyone was thinking I had done something really bad." Knight said.
Then the media caught hold of the story.
"I can not believe it has been made into as big of a deal as it has been. I come from a town with four stop lights." Knight said. "They said it would be low-key, then three days later I'm getting phone calls that it is in every paper."
Knight was crowned Miss Tuscola in March, but the crown was revoked when photos of her smoking hookah were presented to the Tuscola Chamber of Commerce board.
The chamber voted that Knight's actions were a breech of contract. Knight, however, said she wasn't aware she was breeching her contract.
"I truly did not know I was violating the contract." She said. "I knew I was not supposed to drink or smoke weed. I don't even smoke; I actually have asthma."
Hookah is the name of a water pipe used to inhale flavored tobacco. Hookah lounges and cafes are growing in popularity and a number of them exist in the St. Louis area.
Knight, who is 18 and legally allowed to smoke tobacco, says she must have overlooked the no smoking portion on the contract.
"Evidentially it is in the contract and I just overlooked it," she said. "Probably because I don't smoke."
Photos of the queen smoking hookah were posted to Facebook, which Knight and her friends saw no harm in as everyone pictured was over 18. Printed copies of those photos were submitted to the Tuscola Chamber of Commerce and the matter was discussed at a chamber meeting. Knight says she was unaware that the chamber had seen the photos or was discussing them until she received a phone call informing her that she was being relived of her duties.
The Tuscola Chamber of Commerce president released a statement that says the matter is only between the chamber and Knight.
Knight was surprised by the chambers actions but said she was assured that the matter would remain "low key." The first reports of Knight losing her crown ran in local newspapers that same day.
"They left it open in the paper, as to what I had done, so everyone was thinking I had done something really bad." Knight said.
Then the media caught hold of the story.
"I can not believe it has been made into as big of a deal as it has been. I come from a town with four stop lights." Knight said. "They said it would be low-key, then three days later I'm getting phone calls that it is in every paper."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
David A. Whitacre
posted 9/14/07 @ 3:17 PM CST
Oh... just wait until I get my hands on this one...
steve_mal
Old Fart
posted 9/20/07 @ 4:21 PM CST
I'd say by the picture that there is nothing wrong with her hookahs.
mmruzik
Mike Mruzik
posted 9/21/07 @ 11:18 AM CST
I don't see why alleged tobacco use for someone who is of legal age is a problem.
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