Former Miss World Stephanie Del Valle took to her social media on Thursday to clear the recent allegations of embezzlement. The diva is facing a lawsuit for allegedly misappropriating millions of dollars allocated by the authorities for Miss World 2021, held in her country.

As per the reports, the Government of Puerto Rico and the Municipality of Rio Grande granted more than $1.2 million from public funds. It was alleged that Stephanie Del Valle and her Reignite corporation ‘did not have the financial capacity, staff or experience to carry out the contest’ so she subcontracted the company Puerto Rico With a Purpose L3.

Her company reportedly issued three checks totaling the amount of $1,225,000.00, but the lawsuit alleges that the company committed fraud because it immediately ordered its bank to stop payment and the checks were rejected when they were deposited by Puerto Rico With a Purpose L3C.

Stephanie issued an official statement refuting the claim and stated, “In an exercise of transparency, verticality and fiduciary responsibility, I offer statements on behalf of Reignite Puerto Rico and myself regarding the defamatory allegations made yesterday. The total of the federal funds that the government of Puerto Rico disbursed to Reignite Puerto Rico in advance for the promotion of the island through the celebration of the Miss World 2021 event, were frozen immediately after the cancellation of the event on December 16th. As a result of the cancellation, the funds have been returned in full to the Government of Puerto Rico.”

“Injecting economic development, resources and tourism to our island has been, is and always will be our mission. Our only intention has been to properly manage the funds and keep our foundation away from what is frivolously alleged here. We reiterate to the people of Puerto Rico and and the people around the world that my foundation, none of our officers nor I have committed embezzlement or illegal appropriation of federal funds allocated by the Government of Puerto Rico, as alleged in the frivolous and malicious lawsuit filed yesterday,” she further clarified.

“Our team together with our legal representation are working to answer the lawsuit so that the details of what happened are made public at the correct time. Thank you Puerto Rico for allowing me to positively impact my Island and for always supporting me,” the statement concluded.