18
January
2016

Miss Stormy Keffeler Miss Washington USA 2016 resigns amidst scandal

18 Jan 2016 | Angelopedia

The Miss Washington USA 2016 pageant winner gave up her crown after she was convicted of drunken driving. Stormy Keffeler, 23, pleaded guilty to DUI in September and spent two days in jail last month, according to court documents.

When police stopped Keffeler in April, two of her car's tires were flat, and her eyes were “droopy, bloodshot and watery,” according to a Seattle Police report. “Her speech was very slurred and she was having problems putting together fuII sentences,” the report said. Her blood-alcohol level was .22 - nearly three times the legal limit.

Keffeler broke pageant rules by not disclosing the incident on her paperwork before entering Miss Washington USA, nor after she won the 2016 crown in October, co-executive producer Maureen Francisco told NBC News.

 

Miss Washington USA 2016 winner Stormy Keffeler resigns amidst scandal

 

Organizers only found out about the conviction following an email tip-off earlier this month, leading to a “legal discussion” with Keffeler that ended in her voluntarily stepping aside.

“She is very remorseful,” Francisco said. “I can’t wait to see how she turns herself around and impact massive lives in a positive way.”

The organization was not able to reach Keffeler for comment early Friday, but in an interview with local TV station she said she realized it was time to go.

“For days I told people, ‘You can take my title off my cold, dead body.’ I was willing to fight to the end,” she said. “But after having a meeting with the pageant Production Company and seeing my family I realized the most selfish thing I could do was to continue on with this.”

Before her pageant career, Keffeler played for Seattle Mist in the Legends Football League, which was formerly known as the Lingerie Football League and featured scantily-clad female players. Her pageant bio says she is a freelance hair and makeup artist and is studying journalism, hoping to become a sports commentator.

Keffeler’s title has now been transferred to runner-up Kelsey Schmidt.