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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A Mexican tourism official issued an apology after Miss USA was jeered in an international beauty contest in Mexico City in May.
Rachel Smith, the U.S. entrant into the Miss Universe competition, was booed by some of the Mexican audience after she slipped and fell during an evening-gown competition. Her fall and the audience reaction briefly attracted international attention.
Gabriel Szekely, chief of staff for Mexico's tourism department, wrote in a letter that he regretted the "unfortunate events" of the pageant.
"We understand the concern of the people of the United States about the incorrect behavior of a small group that attended the event," Szekely wrote. "We apologize for the inconvenience and be sure that Miss Rachel Smith will always be welcome in Mexico."
The letter was addressed to Los Angeles homeless activist Ted Hayes. It came after Hayes and a second activist, David Hernandez, complained to Ruben Beltran, the city's consul general of Mexico.
"We were quite surprised," Hernandez said. "We thought it would have fallen on deaf ears, and then all of a sudden it came in the mail."
The audience's reaction to Smith was not personal; it had more to do with Mexico's sometimes tense relationship with the U.S.
The contest was held at the same time lawmakers in the U.S. were debating immigration reform.
The letter is dated July 10, but Hernandez said it arrived last week. He said he has forwarded it on to Smith.
Smith was the fourth runner-up at the pageant. Miss Japan, Riyo Mori, went on to win the crown.
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