Miss California Loses Her Crown

Carrie Prejean's fight over same-sex marriage and risqué modeling photos weren't enough to cost her the Miss California crown, but the pageant says she's been stripped of it for the ultimate beauty queen crime: not showing up.
"The Miss California USA Organization, in conjunction with the Miss Universe Organization and with the blessing of its owner, Mr. Donald J. Trump, announced today the termination of Carrie Prejean as Miss California USA 2009, citing continued breach of contract issues," the Miss California USA Organization said in a statement.
Miss Malibu Tami Farrell, who was the first runner-up, is now Miss California.
Prejean, who Trump spared after Perez Hilton and other bloggers posted the risqué photos, removed her Wednesday because of her "unwillingness to make appearances on behalf of the Miss California USA organization," Keith Lewis, the pageant's executive director, said in a statement.
Prejean, informed of the development by Access Hollywood's Billy Bush (who is also a Miss Universe pageant host), said she was surprised. "I was just talking to my lawyer and I just got a phone call from you and I've gotten some text messages saying, 'Hey, is this really true?' and I said, 'True about what?' and they said, 'That you've been fired.' And I started to laugh because everyone's been cooperating and everyone's been getting along so well," Prejean said. "This is the first that I've heard of it. This is funny to me. I have no idea what's going on."
Trump signed off on Prejean's removal. "I told Carrie she needed to get back to work and honor her contract with the Miss California USA Organization and I gave her the opportunity to do so," Trump said in a statement. "Unfortunately it just doesn't look like it is going to happen and I offered Keith my full support in making this decision. Carrie is a beautiful young woman and I wish her well as she pursues other interests."
Those other interests might include continuing to voice her opposition to gay marriage. Hilton, a judge in April's Miss USA pageant and supporter of same-sex marriage, asked Prejean during the pageant if she supported its legalization. Her response that she did not has made her an icon of opponents.