Miss Pennsylvania Rival Accused of Stalking, Threats

Pageant runner-up Victoria Vespico faces defamation lawsuit over harassment claims

Apr. 15, 2026 at 5:40pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled, ripped piece of paper with a faint text message visible, conveying a sense of gritty, sudden, and investigative tension without depicting any violence or victims.A recent wave of alleged harassment and threats between Miss Pennsylvania contestants has escalated into a legal battle, exposing the intense personal rivalries that can emerge in the high-stakes world of beauty pageants.York Today

A heated rivalry between two contestants in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant has escalated into a legal battle, with one woman accusing the other of stalking, harassment, and making death threats. The judge in the case has ruled that the alleged victim, Robyn Kass-Gerji, was telling the truth about the threats, dealing a blow to Vespico's defamation lawsuit.

Why it matters

The case highlights the intense pressures and personal rivalries that can emerge in the high-stakes world of beauty pageants, where contestants vie for the crown and the opportunities that come with it. It also raises questions about how social media and tabloid coverage can inflame such disputes.

The details

According to court documents, in the lead-up to the 2024 Miss Pennsylvania pageant, Vespico allegedly sent Kass-Gerji a barrage of harassing text messages, including threats to kill Kass-Gerji, her mother, her boyfriend, and her dog. Kass-Gerji obtained an anti-stalking order against Vespico, which a judge later ruled was justified based on the evidence.

  • In the months before the 2024 Miss Pennsylvania pageant, Vespico allegedly sent threatening texts to Kass-Gerji.
  • A hearing was held in Washington, D.C. shortly before the pageant, where a judge ruled in favor of Kass-Gerji and issued an anti-stalking order against Vespico.
  • After the 2024 pageant, the British tabloid Daily Mail published an article about the dispute, prompting Vespico to file a defamation lawsuit against Kass-Gerji.

The players

Victoria Vespico

The Miss Pennsylvania pageant runner-up who is accused of stalking and threatening her rival, Robyn Kass-Gerji.

Robyn Kass-Gerji

The Miss Pennsylvania contestant who obtained an anti-stalking order against Vespico after alleging months of harassment and death threats.

Judge Julia Munley

The D.C. Superior Court judge who ruled in favor of Kass-Gerji and issued the anti-stalking order against Vespico.

Daily Mail

The British tabloid that published an article about the dispute between Vespico and Kass-Gerji after the 2024 Miss Pennsylvania pageant.

Laura Collins

The Daily Mail reporter who authored the article about the dispute between Vespico and Kass-Gerji.

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What they’re saying

“I Swear, if You Don't Drop Out of Miss Pennsylvania, I Will Come to Your Home and Set It on Fire”

— Victoria Vespico

“Vespico tells a very different story. She insists that she never sent a single message and paints Kass-Gerji as the true aggressor.”

— Judge Julia Munley, D.C. Superior Court Judge

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to dismiss Vespico's defamation lawsuit against Kass-Gerji, based on the findings of the previous anti-stalking order hearing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the intense personal rivalries that can emerge in the high-stakes world of beauty pageants, where contestants' reputations and careers are on the line. It also raises concerns about how social media and tabloid coverage can inflame such disputes, even after the legal system has rendered its verdict.