Miss America contestant quits after confessing to being Canadian

A Miss America contestant has quit after confessing to being Canadian.

Jaclyn Foster, 17, had to drop out of the race for Miss Racine 2003.

The high school senior said she had been living in Racine, Wisconsin for six years and planned to apply for US citizenship in May.

She added: "I don't know whether to say I'm frustrated or disappointed. I put in so much time and money and energy. I was having so much fun."

An e-mail from a friend of another contestant to the Journal Times of Racine prompted questions to pageant co-ordinator Therese Van Ryne about citizenship requirements.

When she consulted Miss America pageant officials, Van Ryne learned her contestants must be US citizens. She then asked Foster to withdraw.

"This is the first time I've encountered the issue of US citizenship," Van Ryne said. "It has obviously been a huge learning experience for me. I'm saddened that Jaclyn won't be able to participate this year."

The Miss Racine winner goes on to compete in the Miss Wisconsin pageant, which selects a contestant for the Miss America pageant.

"You wouldn't want someone Miss America who wasn't American," said John Schultz, co-executive director of Miss Wisconsin.