Miss California Lashes Back

Tells "Early Show" Gay Judge Perez Hilton Cost Her Miss USA Title; Defends Racy Photos She Posed For

(CBS)  Miss California, Carrie Prejean, charged on The Early Show Wednesday that celebrity blogger and Miss USA judge Perez Hilton sabotaged her chances of becoming Miss USA at last month's pageant by intentionally giving her a low score after her now-famous remarks opposing same-sex marriage.

Prejean finished second.

But on Tuesday, Miss USA pageant owner Donald Trump said she could keep her state crown.

Wednesday was Prejean's 22nd birthday.

In a wide-ranging interview with co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez, Prejean also defended herself against critics who say racy photos of her that have surfaced since the Miss USA competition are inappropriate, especially for someone espousing Prejean's strong Christian beliefs.

Prejean has come under fire for the steamy pictures, the anti-same-sex marriage remarks, and breast implants paid for, at least in part, by Miss California officials to try to up her odds of winning the Miss USA pageant.

At Trump's Tuesday news conference, Prejean said she feels she was punished for responding to a question from Hilton during the Miss USA competition by saying she believes marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Prejean told Rodriguez, "Mr. Hilton obviously gave me a low score because of my answer. And I was just expressing my freedom of speech."

Asked by Rodriguez if she feels Hilton scored her so low it brought down her overall score enough for her to lose, or whether she thinks all the judges gave her low marks because of her same-sex marriage answer, Prejean replied, "I will never know. That's just something, you know, I'll never know the outcome of. But I do know that he did score me the lowest. There were three other judges who were gay, so... "

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Photos: Controversial Miss California

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Since the Miss USA competiton, Prejean told Rodriguez, she feels she's been "put under the microscope for my answer. And they dug up into my past. And there were some photos released (from) when I was 17 years old. I'm a professional model and I model in swimwear and lingerie. And, so, it is what it is."

"The contract is pretty explicit," Rodriguez pointed out, "(saying) you had to disclose that those photos were out there. Why didn't you?"

"It's not that I didn't disclose them. It's that I never thought a photographer would be so unprofessional that he would release, you know, inappropriate photos like that, which were in-between shots.

"Is that naive of you?"

"Absolutely. Absolutely. I should have requested those photos for my own personal use and had him have no rights to those, which we are looking into."

Prejean added, "I think any one of those girls, if you'd really dig into their past, I'm sure you would find some things. But who makes the same decisions they did when they were 16 and 17 years old? Not many of us. It's all about who we are today. And I'm very proud of the woman I am."

Is it hypocritical of Prejean, Rodriguez wondered, to pose for steamy photos while holding devout religious beliefs?

"I never posed topless. It was... "

"You didn't have a top on in the pictures," Rodriguez noted.

"It wasn't a topless photo," Prejean continued. "I was on stage in a bikini. You know, I'm a professional model. That's what I do for a living. And, you know, people can say whatever they want to say. If I was topless or nude or whatever. You know, a lot of people saw those photos and there's absolutely nothing wrong with the photos, as Donald Trump said yesterday."

"And you don't feel it interferes with your faith or what you preach publicly?"

"Absolutely not. My message to my church and young girls that attend church is, you know, I am a very strong woman today. And the decisions I made when I was 16 and 17 years old, I was very naive, trying to get into the modeling industry. And I definitely would not make those decisions today."

But Prejean was less direct when Rodriguez asked about the breast implants.

Asked about the message Prejean geting them send to young girls and whether it might lead them to believe "they have to enhance themselves to have a better chance of winning in life," Prejean asserted, "Well, I think that that's definitely an irrelevant topic. And we kind of cleared that up yesterday (at the news conference). So -- "

"But what would you say if they were watching right now and they didn't see you yesterday?"

"I think that's -- that has nothing to do with me answering a question on stage. And that's what I think we really need to focus on."

[jjsazama]

Though I don't agree with Miss Californias views on Gays marrying and question her comments on what modeling is about and photographers sneaky ways, I'm disturbed by the Pageant's helping to pay for her implants. Inserting foreign objects in ones body to improve ones self esteem should be paid for by the contestants themselves, if allowed at all. How did she rate the big assist? Could she have won without them? Thank you Shannan.

[biggcheese1]

The Miss USA contest is like cigarettes; absolutely no redeeming value. And, like Donald Trump, it is not relevant, socially significant or important - all show with little real substance - a bikini contest, nothing more and contestants don't have to be bright to win. Miss California was not programmed to answer the questions about her exposed nipples therefore she locked up like a PC on Vista. She, like most ditto heads, have no original thoughts but simply regurgitate what they ingest from preachers getting rich from building mega churches, radio talk show morons and fox "news." Her answers to Maggie's questions reminded me of Sarah's answer to Katie's question about which newspapers she read... "Duh?!"

[dovestar]

While people like to talk about what they call "steamy" photos, the central focus of this situation is simply that a young woman answered a question asking for her opinion on a controversial issue and because of her answer, she was subjected to scrutiny that, in all probability, you or I could not have withstood. Through it all she conducted herself with dignity and grace. Say what you will about the photos, some of them might have been doctored.
Suppose she had answered that question the politically correct way? Do you think we would be having this discussion today? Of course not. Miss California would have become Miss USA and that would have been the end of that.
And this is precisely the point. The political left has no interest in honest debate and dialogue with those who disagree with their tenents. They have one, and only one objective--Silence them.
I have seen these people at work. I have also been personally affected, though not as dramatically as Miss California.
This is why these people are trying to silence talk radio and other forums which disagree with their left leaning philosophy. While they openly preach tolerance, their actions reveal a much different agenda. Miss California is not their first victim, nor will she be their last.

[Bechtellaw]

My biggest issue was how Maggie interviewed Miss California.
I just wish she would leave....I have not liked her style from the first day.

[picklepants7]

maggie rod is a dem hack. hey mags, you were tougher on miss cali than any democrate i've seen on your biased show. hey try to be a real journalist, be impartial. plus, is going after miss cali more important in the grand scheme of things than going after that corupt nancy pelosi. but that i guess is beyond your payscale.

[ardlny]

I thought Ms. Rodriguez was incredibly snide and unprofessional to Ms. Prejean. Incidentally, Ms. Rodriguez, in your earnestness to light up Ms. Prejean, where is some acknowledgement that our own President has the same beliefs, as well as 2/3 of this country, according to the most recent polls? Yeah, not so forthcoming on that, are we? In addition, where is your professionalism as a journalist to not also point out that she went on to say at the pageant that she is glad we live in a country where everyone has the freedom can state their beliefs. Incidentally, I support gay marriage, but I am sick and tired of "journalists" under the guise of journalism soft-balling questions that should be fired at certain people and drilling the pitch at people -- like Ms. Prejean and Joe the Plumber -- who are civilians in this fracas. Bad form and your little giggly mean girls elbow rubbing with Joan Rivers was truly regrettable frosting on a really bad cake.

[picklepants7]

you go girl! hey perez hilton, put that in your boyfriend's *ock and smoke it!

[TheTruthDetective]

Maggie is so irritating that I can't even watch her interviews. Maggie is so jealous that she cannot stand it. She tried to nail Carrie this morning about her plastic surgery, and hinted that she should not have done it "because it makes young girls think that they need plastic surgery to be successful". NEWSFLASH MAggie... why don't you ask Julie Chen those same questions???? Julie definately needed plastic surgery. OH I know why, because her husband would FIRE you so fast that your head would spin. Now get out of here with your cheap shoes.

[gunownerdan]

Sorry liberals, but freedom of speech includes speech you may not agree with!

[krauq]

What happened to Miss Rhode Island and her suggestive photos?

[Solarrays247]

"The contract is pretty explicit," Rodriguez pointed out, "(saying) you had to disclose that those photos were out there. Why didn't you?"

"It's not that I didn't disclose them. It's that I never thought a photographer would be so unprofessional that he would release, you know, inappropriate photos like that, which were in-between shots."

What a bold face LIE. She does not answer the question about informing the pageant of the photos, but acknowledges that she knew of their existence. Models almost always sign releases giving the agency ownership of the photos, and they get a percentage or salary if the photos are used.

Pageant officials have stated that Prejean did not reveal any of this when she signed her contract; after the first photo, Prejean said that was only photo; and every day new nude photos keep turning up.

Prejean continues to be a habitual liar.
Posted by boatdocster at 7:53 AM : May 14, 2009

[mutnauq4842]

Did Prejean get interviewed by ABC? Just curious as to how she might be treated in ABC territory.

[2tellthetruth]

What I see here is that people are bashing this lady for a personal view of her faith. On this blog I can't count how many times someone has suggested that she is a hypocrite because she professes to be a Christian with strong moral values yet she posed nude. ***Ok so am I getting it right? Her bashers agree that she is a hypocrite b/c she "supposedly" has "Christian" views. Those views being that she disagrees with gay marriage. Now, her hypocrisy is that she couldn't possibly be a Christian if she posed nude.*******This is quite enlightening seeing that it is widely agreed that if you are against gay marriage you are more than likely Christian, but if you pose nude, or if your daughter is pregnant out of wedlock, yet you teach abstinence (Sarah Palin) you're a hypocrite....How warped is that ! Obviously these bashers have no idea about the principles of Christianity. ****A Christian is someone that is supposed to follow the commandments of Jesus Christ and most often times are imperfect and makes mistakes and that is the beauty of it, because Christ redeems that person from their fault. It is replete throughout scripture that some of Jesus' followers had issues and constantly found themselves looking toward Jesus for help. What would make her a hypocrite is if she in turn bashed someone else for her same mistakes. The fact of the matter is, is that she should not have been asked such a question in that arena. It was not the answer that was flawed but the question. What's next, beauty pagents asking people questions about why they are Christians ? So, what? she has no right to answer a question truthfully? She would've been a hypocrite if she would've lied and said that she agreed with gay marriage and yet she knew she didn't but only said it to win.

[Bechtellaw]

I was shocked by Ms. Rodriguez and her very unprofessional way of handling Ms. California's interview. Why was she so hard on her? You speak to one guest about their fake breast in a negative manner and then you speak with Joan Rivers and you NEVER question why she felt so insecure about aging that she had to go have her face lifted completely. (and it does look HORRIBLE)
I feel the only reason Ms. California was singled out is because of what her answer was when questioned about gay marriage.
You know the answer to the politically incorrect question that should have never been ask.
I don't understand why everyone thinks they can have their say about things but Christians need to sit down and shut up.
The pictures are being used to bring her down. Where were these pictures before? Can you say someone paid someone else BIG bucks to get those pictures to try and destroy her because she stood up for what she believed in.
Maggie, if you can't give a fair interview then you should reconsider your position. I also was shocked that all three anchors laughed at Ms. California with Joan. How unprofessional. You should have had better taste than that.
Shocking I tell you.....I didn't care for Maggie from day one and now I know she is just what I thought from the beginning.
LEAVE THE SHOW MAGGIE!!!!

[YCantWeAllGetAlong]

The comment she made about marriage is not "anti-same-sex marriage remarks", they are Pro-Marriage remarks. Marriage is a union between a man and a woman. If these people feel the need to have some sort of union, there are contracts that can be written up that don't involved the sacred rite of matrimony. Miss California should be very proud to have spoke her mind and I would have given her the highest score for honesty and integrity. Good for her!

[boatdocster]

"The contract is pretty explicit," Rodriguez pointed out, "(saying) you had to disclose that those photos were out there. Why didn't you?"

"It's not that I didn't disclose them. It's that I never thought a photographer would be so unprofessional that he would release, you know, inappropriate photos like that, which were in-between shots."

What a bold face LIE. She does not answer the question about informing the pageant of the photos, but acknowledges that she knew of their existence. Models almost always sign releases giving the agency ownership of the photos, and they get a percentage or salary if the photos are used.

Pageant officials have stated that Prejean did not reveal any of this when she signed her contract; after the first photo, Prejean said that was only photo; and every day new nude photos keep turning up.

Prejean continues to be a habitual liar.

[tchagas]

I think Maggie's interview w/Ms. California was in very poor taste and I was very disappointed in her. Shouldn't responsible, well educated journalists be able to sit there and hear someone elses opinion without displaying a snobbish arrogance? Maggie rewind your interview and take note on your obivious arrogance and biast regarding Ms. CA beliefs!

[Saratoga666]

While I very much like the staff of cbs news, I thought the interview and later comments about Miss California were extremely mean spirited.
She was treated poorly. How the staff could suck up to Joan Rivers who clearly lied before the whole world regarding her actions on Celebrity Apprentice and who should be the last person who should discuss plastic surgery, all at the expense of Miss California, is beyond the pale of good taste.

[picklepants7]

oh give me a break about those nude photos. you liberal dimocrates are all about some porn anyway . you love it, you protect it, it's covered under free speech right? so save your self-rightousness, you have none.

[TheTruthDetective]

Maggie is so irritating that I can't even watch her interviews. Maggie is so jealous that she cannot stand it. She tried to nail Carrie this morning about her plastic surgery, and hinted that she should not have done it "because it makes young girls think that they need plastic surgery to be successful". NEWSFLASH MAggie... why don't you ask Julie Chen those same questions???? Julie definately needed plastic surgery. OH I know why, because her husband would FIRE you so fast that your head would spin. Now get out of here with your cheap shoes.