She used to be Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International — but now Brandi Weaver-Gates is the most hated beauty queen in America!
The 23-year-old stunner was stripped of her sash and tiara after authorities busted her in August with charges of theft by deception and receiving stolen property.
Authorities say the cold-blooded brunette (who won as a redhead) concocted a big lie about having leukemia to trick concerned citizens into donating money that was donated directly into her beauty budget!
An anonymous tipster went to cops, and an investigation revealed that Brandi hadn't even been a patient in a hospital!
Brandi claimed in March 2013 to have been stricken with the deadly disease.
She soon began showing up at fundraisers, and authorities believe that at least 165 people donated to her con game.
A recent "Bingo for Brandi" event, for example, brought in a total of $14,000 to cure her phony disease.
Brandi shaved her head and had family members frequently take her to Baltimore, where she's pretend to be a patient at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Brandi didn't win over cops with her skills in the Q&A section of their investigation, though.
"There were some inconsistencies," said Pennsylvania State Trooper Thomas Stock, "such as Miss Gates' hair was always there and never falling out, and she did not know the name of her doctors, and other things like that."
Brandi is now facing a future of prison beauty-pageant competitions, and can be given a seven-year sentence for each charge.
She's represented by attorney Deb Lux, who said that her client is "truly sorry" — adding that Brandi hopes to return all the money that was raised to help her through the faked illness.
