The Ministry of Tourism does not recognize Miss Merfry Then Rijo as the new Miss Dominican Republic. The legal consultant of the Ministry says that the organizers did not request the permission to host the event. In their opinion, the Ministry can delegate the organization of the contest to third parties, but permission has to be requested. Miss Dominican Republic was elected in a pageant held 3 July and organized by Gatsby Dominicana. Private companies have always organized beauty pageants in the DR. Mrs. Nerys Díaz, speaking for the organizers of the pageant, said they are a legal company with the rights to the Miss DR pageant in the DR and internationally. She also criticized that the Ministry has done very little to support the contest, not being able to even supply a brochure on the DR. Miss DR is a 21-year-old industrial design student at INTEC University.
