College beauty pageant rehearsal turns ugly over scuffle involving Miss Congeniality

(GEORGETOWN, Ky.) - A college beauty pageant turned ugly when a dress rehearsal ended in a scuffle between "Miss Congeniality'' and a school official. <br><br>Georgetown College freshman Keaton

Wednesday, February 27th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(GEORGETOWN, Ky.) - A college beauty pageant turned ugly when a dress rehearsal ended in a scuffle between "Miss Congeniality'' and a school official.

Georgetown College freshman Keaton Lynch Brown, who had earlier been voted Miss Congeniality by the contestants, claims in a complaint that the student activities director grabbed her by the arm during a talent rehearsal Friday and dragged her down some steps until she hit a door.

The school official, Kathy Wallace, was charged with assault.

Contestants in the annual Belle of the Blue pageant said there was some tension between the two women over Brown's chosen talent - a dance segment that drew on her love of horses and included a lasso routine in which she roped a stuffed pig.

"There was some controversy over whether her talent was ladylike,'' said contestant Suzanne Lunsford, 20. "It had never really been done before.''

School spokesman Jim Durham said Wallace was placed on paid leave while the school investigates.

Brown, 18, of Brentwood, Tenn., was not among the top finishers in Saturday's pageant. The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship. The pageant is not a qualifier for the Miss Kentucky contest.