Beauty queens fight over title and topless pictures

Of all the decisions that federal judge James Fox has faced, the most testing yet may prove to be the case currently before him: who should represent North Carolina in the Miss America beauty pageant?

Poor Judge Fox has to decide between two delightfully named beauties: the winner, Rebekah Chantay Revels, and the runner-up, Misty Dawn Clymer. Trouble began when Ms Revels resigned after topless photographs of her taken by a former fiancé surfaced. Ms Clymer was handed the tiara.

But Ms Revels changed her mind and sued. A state judge this week ordered her title and contract to be restored. But the national pageant still recognised Ms Clymer as Miss North Carolina and now Judge Fox must decide who will go. After hearing arguments yesterday, he said he would wait before ruling, perhaps to spend longer studying the pictures.