Miss California: My Anti-Gay Marriage Answer "Cost Me My Crown"

Miss California Carrie Prejean says she believes her anti-same sex marriage stance hurt her chances of winning Sunday's Miss USA competition.

At the Las Vegas pageant, Prejean, 21, was asked by judge Perez Hilton how she felt about legalizing gay marriage. "In my country, and in my family, I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman," she replied. She later lost out to Miss North Carolina, Kristen Dalton.

"It did cost me my crown," Prejean said of her response on Monday's Billy Bush Show. "I wouldn't have had it any other way. I said what I feel. I stated an opinion that was true to myself and that's all I can do."

See photos of more celeb scandals

"It is a very touchy subject and [Hilton] is a homosexual and I see where he was coming from and I see the audience would've wanted me to be more politically correct," she added. "But I was raised in a way that you can never compromise your beliefs and your opinions for anything."

In an interesting twist, Prejean revealed that her sister supports same sex marriage.

"My sister is a second lieutenant in the Air Force and she is a gay rights activist," she said of her sib, who is not gay. "She supports gay people, she supports gay marriage. My beliefs have nothing to do with my sister or my mom, or whatever."

See today's top celeb news photos

Her sister wasn't offended by her remarks at the pageant.

"She was just in my hotel room and she said, 'Sis, I'm not offended by anything that you said. We have two different opinions and I love you because of it. I love you because you stood up for what was right, and it's not a matter of being gay or not gay, it's a matter of you competing for Miss USA and getting a question and answering it to the best of your ability,''" she said.

Added Prejean, "That's what's so great about being an American - we're able to have our own opinions."

Despite all the controversy, "I feel like I won. I feel like I'm the winner. I really do," Prejean said, adding that she had 1,000 messages on Facebook and 2,000 friend requests.

Asked about rumors that she is dating Michael Phelps, she said, "He is a great man. Wouldn't you like to know, Billy Bush? We can talk about that a different day."

Re: Miss California: My Anti-Gay Marriage Answer "Cost Me My Crown"

"Her crown"? Way to show class & graciousness! If nothing else about her is offensive and career-ruining, this is!

Re: Miss California: My Anti-Gay Marriage Answer "Cost Me My Crown"

the feathers on your dress made you lose. that ish is not fierce and perez knew it.

also, not your crown, sore loser.

Re: Miss California: My Anti-Gay Marriage Answer "Cost Me My Crown"

wow.

I thought it was her oddly shaped head.

go figure.

Re: Miss California: My Anti-Gay Marriage Answer "Cost Me My Crown"

I was just reading about this on MSN. I can't believe the amount of people who side with her. She never had the crown to lose. And the one who won is much prettier (imo). I didn't watch the pageant but I think this chick has a crew or 2 loose.

ETA: fix typo

Message edited 4/20/2009 6:11:13 PM.

Re: Miss California: My Anti-Gay Marriage Answer "Cost Me My Crown"

See I thought it was the fact that she was an idiot that cost her. It doens't matter what I thought of her answer because the way she said it made her sound like such a tool that I didn't care what she said

Re: Miss California: My Anti-Gay Marriage Answer "Cost Me My Crown"

She could have done just fine if she'd actually answered the right question.

She was NOT asked "Do you believe in legalizing gay marriage"; she was asked something along the lines of "Since Vermont is the 9th (or whatever number) state to make it legal, should we pass a law making it legal in all states?" (or something like that - I don't remember the exact phraseology).

She could have EASILY stayed out of the controversy and said that the population of each state should be given the chance to vote and decide for themselves, importance of state's rights, blah blah blah.

Instead she decided to say that SHE was raised that marriage should be between a man and a women - "No offense to anyone out there!"

Re: Miss California: My Anti-Gay Marriage Answer "Cost Me My Crown"

Posted by medic6809

See I thought it was the fact that she was an idiot that cost her. It doens't matter what I thought of her answer because the way she said it made her sound like such a tool that I didn't care what she said

Re: Miss California: My Anti-Gay Marriage Answer "Cost Me My Crown"

Posted by medic6809

See I thought it was the fact that she was an idiot that cost her. It doens't matter what I thought of her answer because the way she said it made her sound like such a tool that I didn't care what she said

Re: Miss California: My Anti-Gay Marriage Answer "Cost Me My Crown"

Seeing Perez ****** off makes me happy but it was a stupid answer for her to give.

Re: Miss California: My Anti-Gay Marriage Answer "Cost Me My Crown"