All Blog Posts from Public Eye

Remember in early July, when we had another case of “Girls Gone Wild – Pageant Winner’s Edition” with Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo? For those who've forgotten: She was being blackmailed over some really not-all-that scandalous photos. You might even remember that her blackmail fate was unique in that she herself had posted the incriminating photos online.

The story gained national attention not only for its tawdry potential – which was completely deflated when Polumbo released the (yawn) photos herself – but also because her title was at risk, since the photos suggested there may be times she didn’t conduct herself in a “ladylike” fashion. It all worked out, though – she was allowed to keep her crown. (Phew!)

And now Polumbo is popping up in the news again, as she will be given the opportunity to lecture her classmates on “Web Privacy,” according to the New York Daily News:

She will be counseling incoming freshmen at Wagner College on Staten Island, where she is a senior, on maintaining their Internet privacy.

Amy Polumbo, a 22-year-old drama major, will lead two seminars titled "Your Electronic Image" during Wagner's freshmen orientation Aug. 25, the school said.

Read full post…

“We are a country at war and we have a presidential election coming up. And I’m the number one google search. I think it’s kind of ridiculous.”

-- Miss New Jersey and alleged blackmail victim Amy Polumbo, discussing her story on the "Today" show this morning. (It's around the 1:50 mark. You're welcome.)

News broke yesterday about Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo being blackmailed with photos that she originally posted on the web – news that, unsurprisingly, was promptly splayed on New York City tabloids this morning. Not that they’re salacious, because they’re not. Really:

Reigning Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo told reporters Thursday that someone has threatened to go public with years-old, not salacious pictures of her if she doesn't give up her crown…. Polumbo said that she received copies of between six and a dozen photos—which she and her attorney would only describe as not revealing—in the mail on June 25, accompanied by a letter threatening to publish them unless she relinquished her crown to first runner-up Ronica Licciardello.

Given the fact that this story comes out mere months after also-from-New-Jersey American Idol contestant Antonella Barba’s steamy pictures made their way into the public discussion, we here at Public Eye feel the need to supply something along the lines of a Public Service Announcement. Because we're always looking out for the kids.

Read full post…