In April 2021, Caroline Jurie, the outgoing 2019-2021 Mrs. World winner and former Mrs. Sri Lanka World, was the subject of global controversy after she took the crown off from the head of 2021 Mrs. Sri Lanka World winner Pushpika De Silva announcing that the winner should be married but not divorced.
Jurie wrongly claimed to the pageant audience that De Silva is divorced and was crowned contrary to the pageant rules, then proceeded to forcefully take the crown from De Silva’s head, and on her own accord crown the runner up as winner, placing the crown on the runner up’s head who then believed she had won. De Silva ran off the stage in tears, with the runner up confused and giving an acceptance speech.
De Silva and the pageant organization later announced that Jurie was factually wrong, that De Silva is not divorced and remains legally married though estranged, and that legal action would be taken against Jurie for the assault, resulting alleged head injuries, and public humiliation. De Silva was treated in hospital for these alleged head injuries, and police said de Silva lodged an official complaint on April 5, 2021 against Jurie and another woman identified as Chula Manamendra who forced the crown away from her. Police said an investigation into the assault complaint was underway.
De Silva was reinstated as Mrs. Sri Lanka shortly after when it was made clear that no pageant rules were broken by her win. The Mrs. World pageant was reported to be investigating the matter to determine further possible internal and external actions against Jurie.
An alleged ongoing divorce case for De Silva may have led to Jurie forming a factually incorrect assumption that De Silva was divorced, which then prompted the detrimental actions Jurie took against De Silva and the pageant.
After being arrested and released on bail, Caroline Jurie posted an Instagram video in which she defended her decision.
Chula Padmendra mentioned in an interview that there were no auditors and translators in the Mrs. Sri Lanka 2021 pageant, and not all contestants were treated equally on stage due to a favoritism scandal as seen by witnesses and other evidence. The scandal will be presented in an upcoming court case in regards to this incident.
The Mrs World organization announced later in April that Kate Schneider from Ireland, who was the first runner up when Jurie won the title, was the winner following the voluntary resignation of Caroline Jurie.