Racy Pic May Cost Miss California Her Crown

California Miss Sources Say Pageant Officials Mulling Move After Web Site Posts Semi-Nude Image Of Her.

by CBS/AP

Published: Wed, May 06, 2009 - 9:57 am CST Last Updated: Wed, May 06, 2009 - 11:35 am CST

(CBS/AP) CBS News has learned that Miss California USA officials are considering stripping Carrie Prejean of her title.

They say she may have violated her contract by posing semi-nude as a model, and also by working -- without the pageant's permission -- for a group opposed to same-sex marriage, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy.

Prejean was runner-up in the Miss USA competition last month, and many observers feel anti-gay-marriage remarks she made during the pageant cost her that crown.

Prejean says the fallout over those remarks has made her the victim of "intimidation tactics that seek to undermine my reputation."

As for the photo, she says it was taken when she was just seventeen. Pageant officials say it may have been much more recent than that and, says Tracy, that may be enough to make her the former Miss California.

CBS News legal analyst Lisa Bloom says she's taken a close look at Prejean's employment contract with the Miss California pageant and, "They've got her cold. If they want to fire her, they can fire her."

Bloom adds that terms of the pact make clear that it doesn't even matter when the picture was taken, and that pageant officials get to decide what is and isn't an inappropriate photo of a title holder.

Prejean says the photo was posted in an attempt to belittle her Christianity. She says it was released "surreptitiously to a tabloid Web site that openly mocks me for my Christian faith."

In her statement, Prejean also says the attacks on her and others who "speak in defense of traditional marriage" are intolerant and offensive.

The photo, showing Prejean wearing only pink panties with her back turned to the camera, appeared Monday on the gossip blog theDirty.com.

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southfan1981 Says:

Tue, May 12, 2009 at 7:31 pm

The NYTs had a more comprehensive coverage of the issue.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/the-donald-carrie-prejean-and-the-tiara/?scp=1&sq=Miss california&st=cse

She signed a contract, she agreed to their rules.

KxVicious Says:

Wed, May 06, 2009 at 3:43 pm

Artistic license goes a loooong way.

BamaBob Says:

Wed, May 06, 2009 at 3:25 pm

I was just reading that TMZ says it has four more very graphic photos of her. If true and if she was underage, how do these people stay out of trouble from passing this stuff around?

I read about kids getting busted for sending their own pictures to their friends. What would make this different?

KxVicious Says:

Wed, May 06, 2009 at 1:40 pm

She posed like that at SEVENTEEN??? That’s just trashy!

Surf Says:

Wed, May 06, 2009 at 11:58 am

Republicans and ALL conservative, christian Americans better start standing up and speaking loudly against the constant barrage of the “liberal/democrates” in this country. They want to “do away” with christianity, and conservative views across the board. From one end of this country to the other, they are always the ones that speak out for their particular viewpoints, while the conservative side has chosen to sit back and just do nothing. That approach will do more to eliminate conservative views in this country, than the actual liberals could ever accomplish. Stand up and speak. Stop sitting around watching, and stand up for your beliefs.

BamaBob Says:

Wed, May 06, 2009 at 11:58 am

The woman was asked for her opinion on gay marriage and she gave it. She was even nice about the way she gave her answer. But, but, but a bunch a screwballs got upset with the answer and have been going all out to discredit this kid.

The most ironic thing about this charade is that their favorite president has said he is against same-sex marriage and in favor of civil unions. I don’t see Perez Hilton bent out of shape over that one.

jmorganal Says:

Wed, May 06, 2009 at 11:38 am

The Miss America Pageant is hitting an all time low! Ms. Prejean should part ways with any affilliation to that group. She can do a whole lot better.

snews Says:

Wed, May 06, 2009 at 11:21 am

A woman has a right to exploit her sexuality in anyway she’s sees fit. Until, that is, she signs a contract to exploit herself in a specific manner.

Miss Prejean also has the right to express her political views in and free and open forum. A beauty pageant is NOT a free and open forum.

Beauty pageants are a throw back to a time when women were expected to look good and keep their opinions to themselves, an oddly conservative approach to femininity. Am I the only one who finds this particular “tempest in a teapot” to be humorously ironic?

No need to worry about Miss California. She’ll be just fine no matter what the pageant decides.

SamRock Says:

Wed, May 06, 2009 at 10:58 am

They show more in cleavage at the pageant than what’s in that photo. Even bikini bottom shows more. Nice pic though. Agreed, Perez should be bashing Lorena Bobbitt for mutilating the toy of his choice.

BamaBob Says:

Wed, May 06, 2009 at 10:41 am

I have not seen the pictures, but it still seems stupid to me. She is in a beauty pageant where she has to wear a bikini then march around on stage while a group of judges grade every square inch of her body. Now they pretend to be upset about some old photographs?

It’s pure BS! What they should be saying is that Perez Hilton will never ever be a judge at a female beauty contest again! That’s the real insult in all of this. The big, ugly dweeb…