AN AWARDS ceremony to celebrate the achievements of Scotland's fashion and pageants industry is in doubt after police launched an investigation into the organisers over charity donations.
Glasgow-based Modelscotland is due to stage the Scottish Pageant Awards in March and claims on posters that "funds raised at this event will go towards Save the Children UK and Motherless Children of Africa".
However, representatives for Save the Children said they had never heard of the event.
Susie Barron, Save the Children's fundraising manager for Scotland, said: "Save the Children do not have a fundraising partnership with the Scottish Pageant Awards and can confirm that we have not been involved with the organisation, or any events associated with it, nor have we benefited from their activities.
"We did not endorse the use of our logo, branding or name. We will be carrying out a full investigation."
It comes after The Herald revealed that police had launched an investigation into the company, established last year by Nigerian-born Angel Dairo, 26, amid claims money raised for charity at a series of children's beauty pageants may have never been passed on to good causes.
Thousands of pounds, raised by youngsters as young as three, was handed over in cash but it is unclear where the vast majority of funds ended up.
The event, which is due to take place at the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow on March 16, also promises appearances from Clyde 1 DJs and Scots star of The Voice, Sarah Cassidy.
Ms Cassidy said she had agreed to perform but would cancel in light of questions over its legitimacy.
She said: "They did ask me to perform at the event but I had no idea about the claims and police investigation. I genuinely thought it was for a good cause."
A spokesman for Clyde 1 said: "Presenters had been approached with regard to this event, but had not met with the organisation yet or been booked to appear.
"They will await the outcome of this investigation before deciding whether or not to appear."
A spokesman for the Marriott Glasgow declined to comment on data protection grounds.
Posters say that the awards "celebrate the achievements of people who make our fashion and pageant world a better place".
However, there is confusion over who is benefiting from the event. While the poster carries the logo of a Kentucky-based charity called the Motherless Child Foundation, which helps orphans in Kazakhstan, the text claims proceeds will go to an organisation called Motherless Children of Africa.
David and Nanci Spurlock, founders of the US charity, they confirmed they had "no relationship" with the Scottish Pageant Awards and no branch in Africa.
Meanwhile, a letter provided by Modelscotland apparently thanking them for a "generous donation" of £3850 last year also carried the Kentucky charity's logo, but was stamped with a charity number referring to an Essex-based company called the Motherless Children Foundation of Africa Ltd.
This was dissolved in 2008 after its directors failed to file any accounts for two years. There is no suggestion it has links with Modelscotland.
Modelscotland did not respond to the latest request for comment, but has previously denied any wrongdoing.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: "We have received information from a member of the public in relation to Modelscotland. Enquiries are at an early stage and no criminality has been established so far."
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