By Kate Loveys
Miss England, Rachel Christie, has been forced to relinquish her crown amid claims she punched another beauty queen in the face in a jealous row over her boyfriend.
Devastated Miss Christie - niece of Olympic legend Linford Christie - on Thursday night quit the race to become Miss World.
The model and athlete has been accused of punching Miss Manchester, Sara Beverley Jones, 24, during a night out at a trendy nightclub.
Trouble allegedly flared after Miss Manchester showed Miss Christie a saucy message on her phone claiming it was sent to her by Miss Christie's boyfriend the TV star Gladiator Tornado.
Former marine Tornado, David McIntosh, 23, is an ex-boyfriend of Miss Manchester.
Miss Christie, 21, is said to have flipped and hit Miss Manchester in the face "several times".
On Thursday night Miss Christie's spokesperson, said: "She can't go through to Miss World with this hanging over her. She is really devastated by what has been alleged but we are fully supporting her.
"She will be concentrating on her Olympic training and we will be backing her."
Miss Christie, who hopes to win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in the heptathlon, was the first black woman to be crowned Miss England and won the title in July pledging to be a role model for black youths.
She said at the time: "My main focus in winning Miss England is to show black kids that they can be whatever they want to be.
"If they sit about moaning and being negative, they won't get on. So my message is: 'Just go out and do the best you can'."
Miss Christie who was due to leave for Miss World contest in South Africa next Tuesday was embroiled in the dispute at Manchester's trendy Mansion club where she was partying with her TV Gladiator boyfriend.
Former Hollyoaks extra Miss Jones allegedly fell to the floor after the attack at 12.55am on Monday morning. She was taken to hospital with minor injuries and later discharged.
Miss Christie was arrested on suspicion of assault and released on bail.
Miss England organisers confirmed Miss England's decision.
Their website states: "Due to media attention following the allegations against Miss Christie, Rachel has now decided to withdraw from the Miss World competition and relinquish her Miss England crown.
"Rachel will concentrate on clearing her name and focus on training for the 2012 Olympics until this case is resolved.
"Rachel is very upset about the matter and the Miss England organiser Angie Beasley and Miss World Chairperson Julia Morley will fully support her and are behind her with her Olympic training."
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "At about 12.55am on Monday 2 November 2009, police received a report of an assault at a club on Deansgate Court, Manchester City Centre.
"It is believed that, earlier that night, a 24-year-old woman got into an altercation with another woman in the club and was hit in the face several times.
"The victim was taken to Hope Hospital where she received treatment for superficial facial injuries. She has now been discharged.
"A 21-year-old woman attended a city centre police station on Monday 2 November 2009 and was arrested on suspicion of assault.
"She has been released on bail pending further inquiries until January 2010."