The pageant world has been shaken by this announcement by the MGI Organization today:

“Breaking News!!
With immediate effect, Miss Anea Garcia will step down from her position as Miss Grand International 2015 due to unable to fulfil and follow the contractual agreement with Miss Grand International Organisation.
We are pleased to welcome Miss Claire Elizabeth Parker to take over this honourable position and continue the honourable duty as Miss Grand International 2015.
Congratulations to Miss Claire Elizabeth Parker as the new Miss Grand International 2015.
Miss Grand International Organisation”.

Claire Parker is from Australia and placed 2nd in last year’s Miss Grand International 2015. She will soon be officially crowned.

The last time Australia had won a Grand Slam title was in 2004, when Jennifer Hawkins won Miss Universe in Quito, Ecuador. Now the Aussie have a new Grand Slam queen!

This is what the new queen wrote on her Facebook account:

“Minutes ago the news was broken by the Miss Grand International organization that effective immediately I will be stepping into the role of Miss Grand International 2015.

Unfortunately due to personal reasons Anea made the decision not to continue, a very difficult decision to make and one I am sure has come with a lot of sacrifice and sadness so I hope you will all continue to support her. I wish her all the very best in her future and I will always have fondness in my heart for her. Keep shining beautiful girl!

As for me, I am utterly shocked and thrilled to have had this opportunity presented to me, as a first runner up in any pageant it is your duty to support the winner and step in if she is no longer able to fulfill her responsibilities, however it is incredibly rare for such a situation to occur and I am so grateful that it is written in the stars for me.

Thank you so much to the MGI organization and all involved for this once in a lifetime chance, during the next 6 months of my reign I promise to uphold all the ideals of the organization and all the expectations of a queen and will work hard to advocate our message to ‘stop the war and violence’. I am so excited for the doors this opportunity will open and the amazing people I will be able to work with along the way and can’t wait to see what this journey brings me.

To all my friends, family and fans, in Thailand, in Australia and all over the world; thank you guys for your unending support and love, it means so much to me and I’m so happy to be able to share this with all of us! The messages of congratulations have been flooding in and I will do my best to get back to each and every one of them! But know that they are appreciated from the bottom of my heart.

Less than 12 hours ago my whole world was turned on it’s head, you can never expect the amazing things life will bring to you and I’m so blessed and thankful for these incredible, unexpected gifts every single day. I am truly honoured and humbled. I will be seeing you very soon Thailand!

Claire Elizabeth Parker
Miss Grand International 2015”