Washington, May 2 : Former Miss Norway Monica Hansen has put down beauty pageants, saying they enhance the already high level of cattiness women are known for.

Hansen, who had unexpectedly been crowned Miss Norway in 1997 after she was entered into the competition by a friend as a joke, didn’t go on to compete in the now Donald Trump-owned Miss Universe pageant.

Even though the Miss Universe Organization reportedly told her it was too late to drop out after she explained the situation, Hansen was struck down by a not-so-healthy gall bladder.

“Beauty pageants bring out the best and worst in women: on one hand they enhance already high level of cattiness women are known for, on the other hand they sure help the contestants to overcome their shyness, improve self-esteem and unleash the go-getter in each of them,” Fox News quoted her as saying in an exclusive interview.

“But overall I view pageants as a bit silly - yet one can''t discount the entertainment factor,” she added. (ANI)