Kylie attacks MPs over auction of her knickers
By Christine Sams and Alex Mitchell THE SUN HERALD

Singer Kylie Minogue has her knickers in a twist over the sale of memorabilia in her name at two Labor Party functions in NSW.

After reading a report in The Sun-Herald last week that described the sale of her underwear - and signed photographs - to eager bidders at Labor Party lunches, Minogue lashed out.

Minogue was reading The Sun-Herald at Singapore airport when she learned that two fans had spent more than $7,000 in a bid to own a piece of her underwear collection and signed photographs.

In a letter to The Sun-Herald, Minogue wrote: "I was not aware of the existence of these framed items, where the photographs came from, the auctions, the MPs, where my supposed 'signature' came from, or most importantly where the funds raised are going!

"The funds that I do help to raise, with donated photos and memorabilia, are for charities in need and not political fundraisers. "My apologies to the successful bidding parties if they were under the impression that I had signed or donated these framed items."

It has emerged that the knickers were not worn by Minogue but were from her lingerie label, Love Kylie.

Geoff Pope, manager of Autograph World, which provided the merchandise for the auctions, confirmed he had brought them for $20 and had them framed.

He said there had never been any suggestion that they had been worn by Minogue.

But Mr Waller, who owns the Berry Hotel, said he bought them on the basis that they had.

"Ever since I bought them I've fielded at least 50 phone calls from people who were interested in seeing the underwear," he said. "I've had hordes of people coming into the pub, just to see if they were on the wall."

Ms Macryannis, a Surry Hills publican, said she was highly distressed about spending $5,000 on merchandising that had not been donated by Minogue.

"So they weren't even Kylie's knickers?" she said when told of Minogue's letter. "I'm so upset."

"This is not right, I bought these things in good faith.."

Minogue said she would compensate Ms Macryannis and Mr Waller, saying she would sign fresh photographs and reframe other items at her own expense.

Major surprise in the Miss America drama: The Associated Press announced this morning that Rebekah Revels, the North Carolina beauty queen who resigned amid a topless photo scandal, has been selected to represent the United States in the Miss World pageant.
You probably remember that Revels, a quite ordinary looking brunet of 24, had to resign after taking the Miss North Carolina title when the Miss America pageant received an e-mail indicating there were nude photos of her. Revels told pageant officials that the e-mail came from a former boyfriend. She said she couldn't be sure if such pictures exist.
After Revels resigned, she sought to reclaim her crown after the Miss North Carolina Organization had signed a contract with the first runner-up. Revels lost her court battle and was unable to compete in the Miss America pageant.
In the meantime, the ex boyfriend turned over her nude photos and admited they were taken without Revel knowledge.
Her selection by the Miss World pageant is a great publicity coup by Miss World Holdings Inc., which recently won the license in the United States for the Miss World pageant.