Miss California 'Made Me Laugh': Rosie

'I had the courage and the bravery that a lot of people don’t have': ex-Miss Calif.

(NEWSER) - Carrie Prejean says she believes she was divinely chosen as a defender of traditional marriage, Politico reports. “God had a plan for me” when he arranged for her to answer Perez Hilton’s question on gay marriage during the 2009 Miss USA pageant, Prejean told the Value Voters Summit in Washington. “I’m so proud of the answer that I gave. God chose me for that moment.” More»

Carrie Prejean accuses pageant officials of religious discrimination

(NEWSER) - Dethroned beauty queen Carrie Prejean has filed a lawsuit against the officials who stripped her of the Miss California title, CNN reports. Prejean—who sparked an uproar when she declared her opposition to same-sex marriage at the Miss USA pageant earlier this year—alleges that she suffered from libel and religious discrimination from pageant directors and event publicist Roger Neal, whom she accuses of conspiring against her. More»

(NEWSER) - Former Miss California and gay-marriage opponent Carrie Prejean will pen a memoir about her time at the center of a media maelstrom, US News & World Report notes. Still Standing is due on shelves before Christmas. “The 22-year-old won the respect of millions for modeling something other than evening gowns and swimsuits—the courage of standing up for her convictions,” publisher Regnery writes in a statement. More»

Executive director resigns a day after decision

(NEWSER) - Shanna Moakler has resigned as executive director of the Miss California USA pageant, she tells Us magazine a day after Carrie Prejean was allowed to keep her crown and Donald Trump promised all was well in pageant-land. “I cannot with a clear conscious move forward supporting and promoting the Miss Universe Organization when I no longer believe in it,” Moakler said. More»

No decision yet from pageant officials

(NEWSER) - The seminude photos of Carrie Prejean that emerged recently may not be the only ones—and the secret snaps could cost the controversial gay marriage opponent the Miss California crown, CNN reports. Pageant officials held closed-door meetings yesterday to discuss Prejean’s fate. “The reports say that there are more photos to come. We'll see what happens with those,” said a spokesperson. “They are going over the legalities and clearly she breached her contract.” More»