Ex-Beauty Queen: Miss USA Disgraced Crown

Former Top Finisher In Pageant Sharply Criticizes Tara Conner

(CBS)  Miss USA may be safe for now, but a former top contender says Tara Conner has disgraced the pageant.

Jill Dobson, who finished in the Top 10 as Miss Michigan in the 2000 Miss USA competition, adds that the scandal that almost cost Conner her crown may well help Conner's career — but at a big price.

Conner agreed to go into rehab and will be allowed to keep her title, Donald Trump announced Tuesday. Trump, who co-owns the Miss Universe Organization, said he had planned to end Conner's reign before he met with her Tuesday morning. But he said he changed his mind after speaking with Conner.

The word came amid widespread speculation that rumored wild partying and other escapades would result in Trump yanking her title.

This year's Miss USA first runner-up, who would have gotten the tiara if Conner had lost it, says she wouldn't have wanted to get it that way and stands behind Conner.

Tamiko Nash, Miss California USA 2006, told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm Wednesday, "If I were in the same situation, I would want a second chance. I would want the benefit of the doubt and to give everyone a chance to know the person I really am. The decision's been made. I support Mr. Trump and the Miss Universe organization, and right now it's about moving forward for myself and for Tara."

Nash, who tried to contact Conner, continued, "My lifelong dream was to be Miss USA. … But this crown is not something I would have wanted at Tara's expense. Her well-being is important, and, thus far, my role as Miss California USA and as first runner-up to Miss USA have opened up a world of opportunities — and, for me, it's about making the most of those. … I am behind Tara. Bottom line, Tara is our Miss USA 2006. I support her, I am concerned about her well-being."

But Dobson, who's now a Star magazine news and style editor at large, told Storm that Trump should have taken the crown from Conner and awarded it to Nash.

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Photos: Tara Conner

Photos: Miss Universe 2006

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"From what I know of Tamiko," Dobson said, "and I haven't met her personally, she seems to be the (kind of) person who wouldn't have gotten herself in that kind of situation. I understand she does volunteer work and has worked as an elementary school teacher, and it sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders. That's the kind of person I want to see as Miss USA."

Dobson dismissed Conner's going to rehab, saying, "I think it is the cliché, 'Oh, I made a mistake, now I'm going to rehab.' At Star magazine, we're always covering celebrities. … Every other celebrity seems to do this. And now, it looks like she's doing it. She stood up there (at her news conference Tuesday), and she wouldn't admit to a drug or alcohol problem, but then she said, 'Oh, I'm checking into rehab.' And I was there covering it, and all the reporters were kind of almost laughing when she said that, because we've all heard that so many times."

What does Dobson think prompted Trump to make the move he did?

"I think Donald felt the situation had gotten out of hand and was a big PR nightmare for him," Dobson responded. "He decided to take control of it, kind of surprise all of us and do what he wanted to do, not what the world was expecting from him.

"But I think she has brought disgrace to the program, based on all these reports, and we keep hearing this excuse, 'Oh, she's a small town girl and grew up in a three-stoplight town.' I grew up in a one-stoplight town, and I've never caused an international scandal. So, I don't think that's an excuse."

Dobson also observed that the last laugh may be Conner's.

"She has gotten a lot of fame, and I know from working in this industry that, a lot of times, fame is the first step to getting a job in the industry, which is the reverse of what it was many years ago, but now it's become that way," she said. "So I'm sure if Tara wanted to go on a reality show or even get some acting jobs, she could probably do it pretty easily at this point, because her name is so well-known and so out there. But, that comes with paying the price of being out there and being part of a scandal, which is definitely a tradeoff. I think it's better to be slow and steady and hone your craft a little bit, instead of just jumping into the limelight with a negative connotation like this."

[alamo81]

can her---she knew what she was doing--im from ky
and i dont see any excuse for this

[thegraduatez]

Let the girl be, if she wants to make out with another girl and get buck-wild and get drunk, let her be. ITS CALLED THE LAND OF THE FREE FOR A REASON!
I hate to break the news to you, but her actions are nothing compared to what happens at Spring Break with girls her age that in my opinion (a few) are far better looking and probably more talented and smarter. Disgrace the crown...I beg to differ the crown is only a representation of its financial backing and its sponsors: its not like they don't have skeletons in their closets either.
She is a typical wild child and there is no rehab thats going to contain her inhibitions and if anyone think otherwise well then I will just call you an effing idiot.

[djconklin]

elgraz: "LET HE/SHE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE" And then you go and do it?!? Doesn't that make your worse than she is? She wasn't even being "vindictive" like you claimed.

[blahblahbla5]

Ex-Beauty Queen: Miss USA Disgraced Crown

AND...

EX-CBS News Exec: Dan Rather Discraced CBS News

The circle is now complete...

[blahblahbla5]

Ex-Beauty Queen: Miss USA Disgraced Crown

AND...

EX-CBS News Exec: Dan Rather Discraced CBS News

The circle is now complete...

[blahblahbla5]

Ex-Beauty Queen: Miss USA Disgraced Crown

AND...

EX-CBS News Exec: Dan Rather Discraced CBS News

The circle is now complete...

[alamo81]

lets not forget that these girls/women are put through training--they sign contracts that spell out what behavior is and is not acceptable--i agree that no rehab will change things---this is a young girl out having fun--BUT--she knew then as now what would happen if the rules were broken--it does seem that THE DONALD is trying to head off a p.r. mess by smothing it over as C.B.S. suggests----she did sign a contract--and she is by law an adult----it is sad--but that is how things work

[kevboom]

Maybe it's just me, but it seems there might be something wrong when the likes of Donald scumbag Trump is allowed to pass judgment on others. To say nothing of the driven mothers that line their kids up like merchandise at these pageants every year. I don't think it was little miss Tara who put "disgrace" in pageants. It came long before her. If you haven't seen 'little miss sunshine' yet, rent it. Scary stuff. And now all the mothers from Mississippi and Louisiana can crucify me for marginalizing their "god-given right" to wear tiaras. Meanwhile in Iraq, tens of thousands will be missing Christmas...

[bluestardad]

Yes she did discrace the Crown and women too when she did the knee pad shuffel for the Donald to keep her crown.

[bluestardad]

kevboom well spoken!

[agnim]

"Ex-Beauty Queen: Miss USA Disgraced Crown"

LOL

That is too funny: One cheap ho dumping on another over a FALSE sense of respectability! LOL

[kailumego1]

Donald should yank her title there are standards that each contestant has been made quite aware of before she entered the pageant. Pageant promoters had no problem dethroning Vanessa Williams, for not so graphic or explicit behavior, and this young lady should be no different..

[nsri1982]

People need to get over it. She is human and she makes mistakes just like every other human. She is only hurting herself. Let her deal with situation privately.

People need to grow up, and focus on themselves....not celebs. Her actions have no influence on anyone. It is pathetic and simply deplorable that people pass judgement not to mention childish.

[agnim]

"Pageant promoters had no problem dethroning Vanessa Williams, for not so graphic or explicit behavior, and this young lady should be no different..

Posted by Kailumego1 at 06:29 PM : Dec 20, 2006"

Duh!

Was Vanessa white?

[kailumego1]

Agnim, well that one just went over your head, I'm surprised, "Duh", I know Vanessa Williams isn't white; I thought you got it, that's the point.

Different standards followed indiscriminately, demonstrates how truly "backwards" this country is, personally I don't care if she keeps her crown or not, but, Agnim, I thought you picked up on what I was trying to convey.

Apparently, not, Vanessa Williams, a black pageant winner, had a minor indiscretion, and mostly "all" America felt she should be dethroned, which was exactly what happened. So, my point what makes Tara Conner, a white pageant winner, exempted from the same standards that which all contestants must follow?

This is just another example of the "double-standard" in America, black contestant took racy photos years prior, she's a disgrace, while white contestant, engages in promiscuous and licentious sexual behavior, drug abuse and drunkenness, and to top it off lewd fondling with a minor.

Agnim you have to learn how to read between the lines, before you go out on a limb.

[darkfyreaol]

Let's not forget.. The Miss USA pageant is phony. As stated before, the models/contestants are put through training.

Their behavior is staged, their appearance is artificially enhanced (lipstick, pounds of makeup, $200 hairstyles), even their mannerisms are fake- they're acting for the benefit of the judges and viewers. To deviate from that act is unheard-of..It's a disgrace to fall out of step with the rest of the contestants.

[bluestardad]

Agnim; true!

[twomiracles]

Contrary to Tara Conner's introductions as the first Miss USA from Kentucky, she is not. That title belongs to Miss USA, 1931, Anne Lee Patterson of Ludlow, KY. She won her title in Galveston, Texas. and actress Dorothy Lamour was her first runner-up.
Miss Patterson went on afterwards to the Ziegfeld Follies; married Joseph Bandler and moved to Bel Air, California.
Give Anne Lee the credit she deserves as the true "first" Miss USA from Kentucky!

[stoptheearth]

Okay - Trump meets with Bimbo privately, then announces that he is giving her a second chance because she seemed sincere. Meanwhile in the news, she denies having used drugs but admits drinking, saying it was stupid but yes, she DID have a drink. SOOO, she's entering re-hab for treatment of WHAT condition? Having consumed one alcoholic beverage on one occassion? Hello? Does anyone else feel like she must have given a great **** job?

[agnim]

"This is just another example of the "double-standard" in America, .....

Posted by Kailumego1 at 09:32 PM : Dec 20, 2006"

What?

White people can do whatever they dam well please with their contests, mostly intended for hos!

And by the way, the statement was rhetorical!