Esther Williams, who was crowned Miss Earth Sierra Leone 2017 on 26th August 2017, and was expected to represent Sierra Leone in Miss Earth 2017, has now been relieved of her duties as the Miss Earth Sierra Leone 2017. She is replaced by Claudia Josephine Suma, who will now be Sierra Leone's representative at Miss Earth 2017.

Claudia is a second year nursing student at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences and was a finalist at the recently concluded Miss Earth Sierra Leone 2017.

Below are excerpts from the press release issued by the Sierra Leone's pageant organization -

"The Management of IAMSL (International Ambassadors of Sierra Leone) Pageant Agency and National Directorate of the Miss Earth Sierra Leone Pageant has decided on the 14th September 2017, to release the recently crowned Miss Earth Sierra Leone 2017 Esther Willaims from performing her designated duties as Miss Earth Sierra Leone.

This decision had to be made following Esther's indication of her inability to participate and represent Sierra Leone at the upcoming Miss Earth 2017 pageant scheduled to take place on 4th November 2017 in the Philippines.

Consequent to deliberations within the IAMSL Management and Board of Advisers, it has pleased the management to unanimously select Miss Claudia Josephine Suma as Miss Earth Sierra Leone and to represent Sierra Leone during the fast approaching Miss Earth 2017 pageant to be hosted in the Philippines. Claudia has already accepted her selection and shall be officially crowned as Miss Earth Sierra Leone at a short program to be announced shortly."