Miss Philippines beauty queen Shamcey Supsup came fourth in the Miss Universe 2011 contest. Many of her fans and fellow Filipinos were pleased at the result and gave their congratulations.

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc, which ran the Miss Philippines contest that Supsup won, said her dazzling performance and excellent answer, besting more than 80 of the world's loveliest women, clearly showed the innate beauty and intelligence of the Filipina.

In fact, many of her fans thought her performance and answer was so good that she deserved first, not fourth.

Supsup drew the question would you change your religious beliefs to marry the person you loved?

In response, the beauty queen said if I had to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love.

Because the first person that I love is God, who created me, and I have my faith and principles, and this is what makes me who I am. If that person loves me, he should love my God, too, she said.

One commenter on her Facebook page wrote Congrats Ms Shamcey! You are our winner! Your answer was to the point and from the heart. (Plus) no translater needed, that's extra points!! We ♥ u!!

Miss Angola's answer was incomplete and out of time. Miss Universe organization and the judges should be careful next time in choosing the winner, complained another commenter.

Supsup supporters, moreover, aren't just alleging that the judges made a lapse in beauty judgment; they allege that bias was involved.

One camp, including Philippines Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, raised the possibility that the judges discriminated against Asian candidates because Asians have won too many Miss Universe crowns.

Sometimes you can't discount these possibilities, she said.

Another camp thinks Supsup was penalized by liberal judges for her conservative and Christian response to the marriage question.

Even though you didn't get the Miss Universe crown, your reward is in heaven and I know that God is very honored by your answer. Other people could deny their faith, but you didn't! wrote one commenter on her Facebook page.

This isn't the first time religion and politics possibly influenced beauty pageant results.

Back in 2009, Miss California was attacked in the Miss USA contest for voicing her opposition to gay marriage in response to a question.

Judge Perez Hilton, who posed the question, called her a dumb b---- (after the event) and claimed she lost the pageant because of it.

She lost it because of that question. She was definitely the front-runner before that, said Hilton.

Keith Lewis, co-director of the Miss California competition, also issued a statement declaring that he is personally saddened and hurt by Miss California's answer.

On Twitter, one user jokingly tweeted: New meme: Shamcey Supsup, who rejected Miss Universe rather than deny her God. Assured guest spot on Fox and Friends.

Susup herself, however, isn't upset with her fourth place finish.

We are not the judges there, and I accepted the fact that I'm third runner-up and I'm already happy. I think we should be happy also for Ms. Angola that she won, and I think that she also deserves the crown, she said.

Religion Angola