The Bb. Pilipinas 2016 pageant is a month away but the drama has already started brewing with the disqualification of frontrunner Kim Ross Delos Santos due to an alleged racy test photo that she shot with photographer Marlon Pecjo before joining the competition.

The 26-year-old contestant is a professional model who won the title of Elite Model Look back in 2005, as well as placed second runner-up in the Miss Aliwan Festival in 2009. According to Inquirer.net, beauty queen afficionados consider Kim as a “strong contender” for the title. However, her chances may be short-lived as a source from the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) confirmed that she is indeed disqualified from the pageant, but is still meeting with their legal team over the decision.

Meanwhile, Kim’s talent manager Jonas Gaffud, who is also Pia Wurtzbach’s mentor, expressed his dismay on Facebook, saying that the photo was not pornographic and was a high-end fashion shoot which did not come out in any publication. He also questioned as to why the organization didn’t disqualify a contestant who appeared half-naked on the cover of FHM.

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This poses the question: Where do we draw the line between art and pornography? Kim wasn’t naked in the photo, and if the photo didn’t show up in any publication whatsoever, then she didn’t violate the application rule which states, “I have never participated in any bold/burlesque shows, plays, movies, publications or activities, or such show, play, movie, publication or activity, which, in the sole opinion and discretion of BPCI, is inconsistent with my application with the 2016 Pageant.”

So was the decision justified or not? We’ll let you guys decide.

[Bandera]

Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net