Miss USA 2013 Generates Low TV Rating

Do you think Miss USA is now dying?

The Miss America 2013 telecast was watched by 8.3 million people while Miss USA 2013 was watched by only 5.3 million people. It is being said that Miss USA experienced low ratings because of the NBA Final which averaged 12.2 million viewers making ABC the most watched TV channel of the night. 

Miss USA 2013 Promises Surprises on the Finals

(Miss Minnesota, Danielle Hooper, in her swimsuit and long gown during the preliminary competition yesterday)

The 62nd Miss USA pageant is obviously making an effort to keep the pageant popular so that people will watch it comes coronation night. Why did I say so? First, it is a common knowledge that nowadays beauty pageants are no longer attracting viewership which could transform big profits. Second, Miss USA is being handled by business tycoon, Donald Trump who everybody knows as a publicity whore.These are the two reasons I can think of when I read somewhere that Miss USA 2013 is "introducing something new that will shake up the whole show".

Hmm, now, did that statement from Paula Shugart, the Miss Universe president who is also in charge of Miss USA, pique your interest?

The problem on the thighs of Stefania Fernandez, Miss Universe 2009

The latest picture of Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela, together with Miss USA 2009 Kirsten Dalton and Miss Teen USA 2009 Stormi Henley, in her swimsuit is baffling some pageant fans.

These fans are referring to the thighs of Stefania which are showing serious discolorations. If you have seen these photos and tried comparing her legs with those of the two American beauties, Stefania's thighs have really a different tone or texture. Refer to the pictures and see it for yourselves.

One would think that if these photos are official pictures released by the Miss Universe Organization, they would have cleaned her legs with the aid of a photoshop. Or is there really something serious in Stefania's thighs that even the magic of photoshop can no longer do something?

Someone suggested that probably her skin texture is so fine and thin that we already see flesh. She's thin skinned and the veins are showing through.

Another fan added that probably the lighting in the photographs only made it worse. He claimed he had seen a picture of the 6th Miss Universe winner from Venezuela during the 2009 Miss Universe pageant in Bahamas with the same discolorations on her legs.

This will remain a mystery but one thing is for sure, the thighs of Miss Universe 2009 are weird.

Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez's new hairtsyle

Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela decided to cut her hair. She was seen in Paris, together with Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton, with her shorter hair. What can I say? The new hairstyle perfectly suits her beauty. She now looks more beautiful and younger to me. Look at her in that picture above right before she was crowned as Miss Universe in Bahamas and compared her looks with this picture below.

Voila! She is definitely more stunning now. Agree? Oh, well, I just love her more now. And because of this, I am not going to complain anymore why Venezuela had a back-to-back victory. As days pass by, Stefania is winning my heart.

Miss USA Kristen Dalton Bitches Misses Venezuela and Netherlands

Miss USA Kristen Dalton is getting negative publicities in some message boards for beauty pageants lately. Some fans have been convinced that the  lady who beat Carrie Prejean, the better choice, is such a bitch. Kirsten apparently insulted Miss Netherlands Avalon Chanel-Weyzig and Miss Venezuela Stefan Fernandez.

Last few days, a rumour was circulated that during the welcome party at the Balmoral Club, Miss USA made rude remarks about the dress of Stefania. Miss Venezuela learned about the remarks afterwards but she just ignored it. Some of the girls were happy for Stefania for not stooping down on the level of Kristen.

The source of this news was one of the girls from Central America who was sharing a table with Kristen. She relayed the incident to her mentors and it was leaked then in the forums.

Just today, we got another incident involving Kristen and this time with Miss Netherlands Avalon Chanel-Weyzig.

Avalon made a post in her twitter account. The half Indonesian beauty queen said that Miss USA approached her.

"Miss USA came to meet me and the first thing she said very spontanious, from the Netherlands, wow, so you smoke weeds??? LOL only tourists do!" That's the unedited post from Avalon.

On the other hand, Miss Australia rachael Finch revealed that Kristen talks in her sleep.

Miss Australia Rachael Finch exposes Miss USA Kirsten Dalton Talks in her sleep

Miss Australia Rachael Finch disclosed that her roommate Miss USA Kirsten Dalton has a sleeping disorder of somniloquy or she talks in her sleep.

In an interview with an Australian news site, Rachael said that Kirsten is beautiful, smart and cute. When she walked to her room in Bahamas, Miss USA welcomed her with a big hug and a very loud 'hello'.

"She actually talks in her sleep too."

Kirsten had the privilege to personally choose Rachael as her roommate.

Amy Diaz Wins Miss USA Earth 2009

Twenty-four-year-old Amy Diaz is the winner of Miss USA Earth 2009. The beauty queen who graduated cum laude from Barry University with the degree of Broadcast Journalism will be representing USA at the 9th edition of the Miss Earth pageant in Manila, Philippines later this year.

Amy is a veteran of beauty pageants. She was Miss Rhode Island 2008 and went on to compete at the Miss USA 2008 where she made the Top 15. She also competed at the Miss Florida USA 2007 where she placed third runner-up. But prior to these two pageants, Amy was already a Miss Rhode Island Teen USA in 2001. She represented Rhode Island at The Miss Teen USA 2001.

With all these qualifications, Amy might be the first American winner of the prestigious Miss Earth pageant.

Amy's court includes Miss Fire (first runner-up) Dani Reeves of Iowa, Miss Water (second runner-up) Anastagia Pierre of Florida and Miss Air (third runner-up) Danielle Bounds of Missouri.

Dani also competed in Miss USA 2007 as Miss Iowa. Anastagia is one of Amy's co-candidates in Miss USA 2008 where she represented Florida. Danielle was second runner-up in Miss Missouri USA 2009.

How's Miss Universe 1997 Brook Mahealani Lee now?

Here's an article I took from the net on Miss Universe 1997, Brook Mahealani Lee,

A Kamehameha Schools alum became Hawaii's first and only Miss Universe more than a decade ago. Brook Mahealani Lee won the coveted crown in Miami, but what has she been up to since then?

Twelve years ago, Lee made pageant history. She was the seventh Miss USA to become Miss Universe, but the first from Hawaii and the only native Hawaiian ever to win the title.

She was witty and quick on her feet in answering the final question: If there were no rules in your life for one day, and you could be really outrageous, what would you do?

"I would eat everything in the world," she answered in front of a live audience. "I would eat everything twice."

That answer made her the one to beat.

"But I was like there's no way I was going to win with that answer," Lee said. "And when I won, my jaw, the picture, my jaw just dropping to the floor."

Her family and friends showered her with aloha at her homecoming in June 1997.

"It's good to be here," she said right after her victory. "Everyone come out to the parade tomorrow. Let's all eat Spam musubis together."

More than a decade after her win, Lee still meet people who remember that moment.

"Now everywhere I go, people serve me two things," she said. "I got on planes all year long. Flight attendants were like, ‘You eat everything twice. Here's two!"

The year after her win, she helped bring the Miss Universe pageant to Hawaii, which pumped tens of millions of dollars into our local economy.

"I was just thinking it would be good to give back to Hawaii and help them market themselves to an entire world that had been my host for an entire year," said Lee. "It's like bringing them home, bringing the world home back to Hawaii for me and showing them where it is I came from."

These days, Lee wears many hats: actress, hostess, wife and mother to 2-year-old Fynnegan. She's also been told she moonlights as the Hawaiian Airlines logo.

"Brook, if you could help us either confirm or deny a rumor. Are you the face of Hawaiian Airlines?" asked KHNL.

"See, that has a legal concern," said Lee. "Let's have the viewers vote, shall we? Is this it? Hmm? All you need is the flower. I like to think I inspire, maybe a couple of free tickets? I don't know."

Lee encourages kids from Hawaii to follow their dreams and see the world.

"So it's good to get the perspective and to be able to appreciate even more the trade winds, and the people and waving to each other, simple things," said Lee. "Getting on the freeway, people waving to each other. It's so important: kindness, appreciation. A smile makes the world go around."

Lee is in town for her 20th high school class reunion at Kamehameha Schools and Punahou.

She will appear on KHNL News 8 Today, bright and early Friday morning with Dash and Di.

It's that time of the year when schools welcome back their graduates. Kamehameha schools celebrate alumni week with some good old competition.

It's "Iron Chef" meets ho'olaule'a. Each class creates a signature dish to share, then the alumni vote on who has the most ono creation in the spirit of friendly competition, but it's the people that keep them coming back every year.

"Every five years, we're able to come back to this campus and be a part of reuniting with our classmates and other classes that we know of," said Toni Lee, Kamehameha Schools Class of '59 alumnae. "It puts us in a really wonderful sense of being for us."

"It is a very special place that has produced a lot of very special people so to get everybody together, we all feel the same way," said Andrew Lai, Kamehameha Schools Class of '89 alumnus. "We all bleed blue and white and it's a real special thing. So it's great. It's a fun week."

Ines Ligron Says Miss India Universe Ekta Chaudhary "Can't Talk and a Little Immature"

Frenchwoman Ines Ligron who is the National Director of Japan for Miss Universe mentioned in her reply to comment to her blog that Miss India Universe 2009, Ekta Chaudhary "can't talk and a little immature" that's why the beauty queen is not included in her favourite list of Miss Universe hopefuls for this year.

But don't take it negatively, for the Ekta fans, because it is Ines who is talking. We all know that this well-loved pageant director has an eye for beauty. Besides this is only her opinion and she could be wrong or right.

One fan asked Ines why India and USA are not in her list and that was the answer she gave. Only Misses Spain, Kazakhstan, Australia, Belgium, Colombia, Dominican Republic, England, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Russia, Venezuela, Vietnam and the Philippines are in her list.

Ines reasoned out that her comment was influenced by a Youtube video of Ekta speaking before she won her national title. She added that "she's sorry for the statement and she's just being honest about it"

I just don't know what video she was referring to. So, if you are reading this Ines, maybe you can point us the link. Merci.

But she still complimented Miss India by saying that Ekta is indeed beautiful.

"I am sure the Miss India Organization will turn this around because all their misses are indeed the best speakers normally."

I also remember that hours after Ekta was crowned, Ines made a blog entry also praising her. If I can remember it right, she said that she was happy Ekta won the title. It was Ekta who she really wanted to win.

As for Miss USA, Kirsten Dalton, Ines did not include her because she fails to see something special on the beauty queen.

"Nothing special for me, zero impact, just very “American-girl-next-door” but not in a good way. Again, I am giving my honest opinion, I cannot lie to you."

She also mentioned that Miss Dominican Republic, Ada de la Cruz is so far the clear winner this year.

She ended her statement by spreading peace to everyone.

Miss California vs. Miss Rhode Island: Is There a Double Standard over Racy Photos?

This is a rush transcript from "On the Record," May 11, 2009. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: Some racy pictures of Miss California could end up costing her her crown. But is there a double standard at play here? Take a look at this picture. This is Miss Rhode Island USA posing in "Maxim" magazine before she won her crown.

So why isn't she in danger of losing her crown? And what does Miss Rhode Island think about this controversy.

Joining us is live is Miss Rhode Island USA, Alysha Castonguay. Nice to see you, Alysha.

ALYSHA CASTONGUAY, MISS RHODE ISLAND USA: Nice to see you. Thank you for having me.

VAN SUSTEREN: I'm glad to have you here. So what you think, should Miss California lose her crown or not?

CASTONGUAY: Absolutely not. I don't think it's something that she should lose her crown over if it's just the photos. And I know there are a lot of other things that are going on right now, but for the photos, definitely not.

VAN SUSTEREN: Do you know her at all?

CASTONGUAY: We met briefly. We were at Miss USA for about 17 days. So we talked a few times. She's a very nice girl.

VAN SUSTEREN: So you're not close friends or anything like that?

CASTONGUAY: No.

VAN SUSTEREN: Now, your situation, your pictures -- you had your pictures taken before you competed, is that right?

CASTONGUAY: Yes, I did. I had them -- they were taken in February 2008, and I was crowned in September of 2008.

VAN SUSTEREN: When you competed, did the pageant people know that those photos were out there of you?

CASTONGUAY: Yes. I contacted the Miss Rhode Island staff, and I submitted the photos because they were published, and I knew that somebody could get their hands on them.

And to eliminate a catastrophe from happening, I sent them in to the Miss Rhode Island staff, and they sent them to Miss Universe, and that left me with three weeks to prepare for Miss Rhode Island USA. I was waiting on a response from the Miss Universe organization on whether or not they cleared the pictures, and they did.

VAN SUSTEREN: So it wasn't the Rhode Island pageant that Okayed the, but the Miss Universe, the umbrella organization, which would presumably be over Miss California and every other state, right?

CASTONGUAY: Yes.

VAN SUSTEREN: Do you know, does that go all the way up to Donald Trump, or is that a separate entity, if you know?

CASTONGUAY: I am not sure. I don't k now if they would bother Donald Trump with something like that. But I think that they have some staff that works out situations like that.

I'm not really sure how high it went, but I know that it went into the hands of some staff members of the Miss Universe organization.

VAN SUSTEREN: Now that you are Miss Rhode Island, if you went out and took those pictures, is there anything in your contract or your agreement that would prevent you from going out and just doing those pictures like that yourself, now?

CASTONGUAY: Yes. Now that I'm Miss Rhode Island, yes, it's contracted. It's in our contract.

And I didn't know if it was something we had to submit from before, but in order to eliminate anything, I just submitted them just so that they would know that it's out there and everything would be laid out on the table before I entered Miss Rhode Island.

VAN SUSTEREN: When you compete in this contest, do they ask you on an application, are there any pictures sitting out there someplace that might be embarrassing? Is there any sort of application or anything that you are obliged to tell them before you compete?

CASTONGUAY: They ask you if you have you a Facebook, if you have a MySpace, if you have any photos on there, anything that you've done previously.

I mean, to me, if I took those photos for "Maxim" and they never used them, I don't know if I would tell the Miss Universe organization about them. If they weren't published, I don't know if I would come forward with saying that if they didn't use them.

And I feel that's what happened to her. I feel she probably took these photos for a job or a possibility, a chance at modeling. It's nothing less than what you would see in a Victoria's Secret catalogue, or anything like that.

So I don't know if she just didn't submit them because they weren't published, or what happened with that. But the reason why I submitted mine is because they were published and they were out there.

VAN SUSTEREN: Do you have a sense that her answer to her question is haunting her in any way or is going to sort of play into the decision, or is it simply the pictures?

CASTONGUAY: I think it has a lot to do with her answer to her question, that final night. I think that's part of the reason why that picture's out there.

She answered a question with her honest opinion, and I don't think that America was ready for that question to be answered both ways. And I think that when a question like that is answered, you need to be prepared to receive that answer both ways that it can go.

It's somebody's opinion. We're 51 girls that represent the United States, and we're 51 individual girls with our own opinions. So, I mean, it's not just her opinion. I'm sure there are other girls out there who have the same opinion as her. And, unfortunately, this had to come of it.

VAN SUSTEREN: What do you do now? What is the job of Miss Rhode Island now that the Miss USA Pageant's over? What's your obligation?

CASTONGUAY: We have appearances in Rhode Island. My state isn't really as big as many of the other states. But I travel around Rhode Island doing different things, different events. There are a lot of parades coming up for Memorial Day. And I just did a charity event the other day.

There's a lot of different things that come up. You just make appearances, anything.

VAN SUSTEREN: Alysha, thank you very much, and you do a great job representing Rhode Island, I suspect. I think you probably do a really good job. Thank you.

CASTONGUAY: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.

Scandal: Miss Rhode Islands Alysha Castonguay Semi-Nude Pictures

Miss California Carrie Prejean is not the only American beauty queen who is in the hot water for having racy pictures surfaced in the net. It's just that Carrie's controversy is more scandalous because of the non-stop attacks from unhappy members and supporters of the gay and lesbian communities. In fact, the semi-nude photos of Carrie just started to surface in an attempt to shame her for an anti-gay marriage answer to a question during the Miss USA 2009 pageant.

Miss Rhode Islands, Alysha Castonguay, has also her share of the spotlight. Before she won her state title, she posed without tops for a men's magazine, the Maxim. But like Carrie, Alysha was also allowed to keep her title.

Here is one of the controversial photos of Alysha.

I can't post in my blog the other two more daring pictures. Visit my this link to see them.

Shanna Moakler quits Miss USA over Miss California controversy

A day after Donald Trump allowed Miss California Carrie Prejean to keep her crown following controversy over her opposition to gay marriage and semi-nude photo scandal, former beauty queen Shanna Moakler has resigned from her spot with the Miss USA California organization.

Moakler, the reality star and ex-wife of drummer Travis Barker, is a proponent of gay rights.

Following Trump's decision, Moakler said she could no longer associate with the pageant because of Prejean''s comments and Trump''s decision, Usmagazine. com reported.

"I feel that at this time it is in my best interest to resign from the Miss California USA organization," The New York Daily News quoted her, as telling Us.

"I cannot with a clear conscience move forward supporting and promoting the Miss Universe Organization when I no longer believe in it," she added.

At a news conference, Trump defended Prejean for her position that marriage was between a man and a woman.

She gave her answer during the April 19 Miss USA Pageant, owned by Trump.

Prejean, 22, has charged that the semi-nude photos were leaked by people angry over her opposition to gay marriage.

Sarah Palin on Carrie Prejean

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin re-appeared on the national stage tonight, jumping to the defense of a beauty pageant contestant who has been at the center of a media feeding frenzy in recent days.

"The liberal onslaught of malicious attacks against [Miss California] Carrie Prejean for expressing her opinion is despicable," said Palin in a statement. Palin added that she spoke to Prejean soon after the beauty queen said publicly that she believed she had lost the Miss USA competition due to her answer to blogger -- and contest judge -- Perez Hilton that marriage is between a man and a woman.

"What I find so remarkable is that these politically-motivated attacks fail to show that what Carrie and I believe is also what President Obama and Secretary Clinton believe --- marriage is between a man and a woman," Palin added. "Our Constitution protects us all -- not just those who agree with the far left."

The Alaska governor and former vice presidential candidate has struggled to balance her current job with her ambitions on the national stage. The latest example: She was expected to attend the White House Correspondents Dinner last weekend but canceled at the last minute to attend to flooding in the Last Frontier. (The First Dude -- Palin's husband Todd -- did attend the dinner.)

Miss Georgia Kimberly Gittings Stands Behind Prejean

Miss California, Carrie Prejean learned she would be allowed to keep her crown Tuesday despite risqué photos taken of the 21-year-old surfacing. The beauty queen was also under fire for her answer to a question about gay marriage during the Miss USA pageant. Tuesday night, Miss Georgia opened up about the controversy.

Miss Georgia, Kimberly Gittings said she stood behind her friend Prejean 100 percent and she wasn't surprised that the California beauty queen was allowed to keep her title. Gittings also said she was confident that Prejean will do a great job as Miss California.

Gittings said the crowing moment of being in the Miss USA pageant was getting to know the other women in the competition. The Lilburn native said she developed a close friendship with many of the women in the pageant, including Prejean.

"She was really nice, beautiful in person, and funny too," said Gittings of Prejean.

Prejean came under fire for her answer to a question about same-sex marriage during the Miss USA pageant.

Gittings said as Miss USA you have to be ready to address any topic and speak from the heart.

"I stick behind her opinion, the fact that we come from a country that you can speak you mind," said Gittings.

Prejean found herself in the middle of more controversy when risqué photos she took when she was younger surfaced. Pageant director Donald Trump called the photos "lovely."

"It wasn't that risky, in our generation that's what we see, from celebrities to everyday people," said Gittings.

Gittings made to the top 15 in the Miss USA pageant and placed 4th in popularity in an online viewer vote.

Gittings said while the pageant was rocked with scandal she learned how important it is to stick to your guns.

"Somebody's going to get upset no matter what your opinion, but if you stand behind [what you] say whole-heartedly and you're confident in your decision, you shouldn't have any excuse," said Gittings.

Gittings has a non-profit organization that helps people with eating disorders. Gittings will head back the University of Georgia in the fall where she is a double major in communications and pre-med.

Gittings is also in ROTC and will be going into the Air Force as an officer. Gittings said she wasn't done with pageants just yet and will likely compete on the Miss America circuit.

Dethroned Miss Nevada Peeved by Miss California "Double Standard"

There once was a beauty queen who took naughty pictures and, some years later, did not get to keep her crown.

Despite the magnanimity shown to Miss California Carrie Prejean, Katie Rees—Miss Nevada 2007—was out of luck when racy pics of her showed up after she won her title.

And she's none too happy about what she perceives to be a "huge double standard."

"Semi-nude photos are semi-nude photos," she told E! News, comparing the topless lingerie pics of Prejean with her own shots, which featured a 17-year-old Rees baring a breast, flashing her thong, and doing her best Katy Perry impression.

Miss Universe Organization honcho Donald Trump deemed the photos inappropriate and stripped Rees of her Miss Nevada USA title in December 2006.

And this isn't the first time since that Rees has spoken out in opposition to the less harsh treatment doled out to some of her pageant peers.

She called it "unfair" when Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner was allowed to keep her title after the then-underage beauty queen was spotted drinking in various NYC bars and, at one point, kissing one of her gal-pals.

Rees said today that she and Prejean both signed contracts swearing that there were no nude or semi-nude photographs of them in existence.

And they both broke the contract, Rees added, but she is the only one who had to pay so harshly for her mistake. She asked for a chance to reclaim her title, but was denied.

"I don't know why I am the only one who was punished for their behavior," she said. "I was only 19 when those photos were taken of me, and it was me in my personal life, far before I was crowned Miss Nevada. Carrie actually posed for these professional semi-nude photos.

"I think that's worse."

Last week, after the blogosphere was already ablaze with Prejean's anti-gay marriage comments, a racy pic of the Miss USA runner-up was posted on TheDirty.com. Prejean later admitted to having posed for that and other shots when she was only 17, having been convinced "in her naiveté" to do so by the photographer.

Earlier today, Trump ruled that Prejean will remain Miss California.

Rees, who says that she has never actually met Trump, thinks the real-estate tycoon made a mistake by giving her the ax.

"I have been scrutinized in the press and have tried to move on with my life, but it's hard," she told E! "Everywhere you go, people judge you on these photos and already think they know the type of person you are."

But despite everything, she said, Rees is proud of the way she has handled the aftermath of her own pageant debacle.

"At least when those pictures of me came out, I admitted I was wrong and told young women in America how big of a mistake it was and to be careful because everything can affect your future," she said. "That's more than Carrie has done. She has lied about her age when she took the photos, lied about how many there were and hasn't acknowledged that she was wrong by breaking the contract. I don't think that is a good role model and I hope young women recognize that."

Scandal: New Set of Miss California Carrie Prejean's Semi-Nude Photos

The "attack" on Miss California 2009 and Miss USA 2009 runner up, Carrie Prejean, by mostly gays who were offended by her answer during the final question and answer portion of the Miss USA pageant continues with TMZ, a popular site for celebrity gossips, discovering more of Prejean's racy pictures showing her boobs and nipples.

The site claimed that the semi-nude photos of Carrie Prejean was shot profesionally only last year when the controversial beauty queen was already 20 years old.

Well, expect that this scandal or controversy involving Miss California will go on now that the owner of Miss Universe, Donald Trump, let Carrie keep her title. She was not dethroned which disgusted many Carrie haters. Expect them to hunt for more racy pictures of her.

Here are some of the semi-nude pictures of Miss California from TMZ.

Donald Trump Rules: Carrie Prejean Will Keep Her Crown Despite Racy Pics Controversy

Beauty queens are in the eye of the beholder. And for Donald Trump, Carrie Prejean will always be a beauty queen.

Trump, the owner of the Miss Universe Organization and thus decider of Miss California's fate, resolved today to let the scandal-scarred and contract-violating titleholder keep her crown, over yesterday's urgings of Golden State pageant officials.

"Carrie will remain Miss California," the Donald announced at a press conference this morning, adding that "we are in the 21st century."

"We've really studied these photos," he said. "We've made a determination that everything we've seen to date that she's done—some were very beautiful, some were risqué—the pictures taken were acceptable, were fine, and in some cases were lovely pictures."

The aesthetic argument is one Trump returned to several times over the course of explaining his decision.

"If Carrie weren't so beautiful, this never would have come up," he said. "Carrie is totally beautiful. And her answer, because of that, took on more importance. Unfortunately, that's the way the press works. You should be ashamed of yourselves."

As for Prejean, she took time out to give thanks to her own holy trinity: Trump and Miss California officials, her fans, and—no acceptance speech is complete without him—God.

"I would like to thank the thousands of Americans who have sent letters, sent emails, messages...I cannot count the number of fan mail I have received in the past three weeks of people expressing their support to me," she said, choking back tears. "They have confided in me that they have found hope and inspiration in my story.

"Most importantly, I would like to thank God for trusting me with this large task and giving me the strength to stand by my beliefs."

And while she dismissed the recent spate of leaked topless photos as one-off poses, Photoshopped snaps and otherwise unknowing outtakes from a surf magazine shoot, she did spend some time explaining the other alleged violation of her Miss California contract—lobbying against same-sex marriages.

"Being at the center of a media firestorm is not something I had planned or signed up for," she said. "Let me be clear, I am not an activist, nor do I have a personal agenda.

"I was thrown into this firestorm from the time I was asked the question on stage…The president of the United States, the secretary of state, and many Americans agree with me," she said.

And while she went on to admit that she has "become an advocate of not redefining marriage," she will continue to do so without ties to any particular organization.

"I am not working for the National Organization for Marriage. I spent about an hour with them," she said.

"I am not going to be speaking out against same-sex marriage. I'm going to resume my duties as Miss California, but also stay true to my personal beliefs. We will see how we will balance the two.

"I want to reaffirm my commitment to Miss California USA."

Part of how Prejean will now do that is by incorporating her hard-learned lessons in "civility, respect and tolerance" into her state duties.

"Not everyone may like me or agree with me, but I hope at the end of the day, everyone will respect my rights as I respect theirs."

"It has been a long journey for me, as you all know, but through all this I stand before you today a stronger woman than I was yesterday and I am proud of that."

She also stands today as a beauty queen who once again has the support of the Miss California organization behind her.

While pageant codirectors Shanna Moakler and Keith Lewis yesterday all but replaced Prejean in her duties as Miss California, they appeared alongside her at today's press conference forming a united front.

"I think Carrie's excited to get back to being Miss California USA and we're excited to have her," Lewis said.

"They were having some miscommunication with Carrie, and I use the term 'miscommunication' somewhat loosely," Trump said. "The communication problem, I believe, is totally solved.

"They are really getting along very well. They've been meeting for hours in my office and I really think that they developed a relationship they didn't have before."

Just yesterday, Miss California pageant officials crowned a replacement-in-waiting, Miss California runner-up Tami Farrell, whom they also announced as the ambassador for the new Beauty of California initiative.

Lewis and Moakler also let slip that they had strongly recommended that Trump give Prejean the old heave-ho from her pageant post, mostly due to her failure to disclose her racy shots.

For her part, Prejean shrugged off the scandal, saying the most recent spate of photos were taken by a professional photographer between shots on a windy day, and blamed unexpected gusts—and an ethically-challenged cameraman—on her unwitting exposure.

Trump has a history of being forgiving of misbehaving beauty queens. Back in 2006, he gave Miss USA Tara Conner a second chance after she admitted to drinking, drug use and other behavior unbecoming a pageant winner, and sent her to rehab.

"In a way this is a bigger issue," he said. "Tara had serious alcohol and drug problems, and I'm very proud of her. We gave her a second chance...She's doing fantastic.

"That was a personal problem that she had, this is a very big issue. This is an issue that probably will be debated for a long time."

Though it's a debate that, for once, won't be started by Trump himself.

After opening the press conference up to questions from the press, the mogul was inevitably asked what his response would have been on the now infamous pageant question.

"It's not up to me," he said, expertly sidestepping the query. "It's a very, very, big issue and it's an issue that has two sides and I understand both sides very well."

And as for the question's equally infamous asker?

"I'd love to have him back," Trump said. "Look, I know Perez Hilton. He's doing his thing, I'm doing my thing, we're all doing our things."

As it stands, Prejean will be doing her thing as Miss California until November, when the next state winner will be crowned.

Miss USA gets candid about style, beauty and that other pageant

Miss America contestants love to distinguish their pageant from Miss USA's with one simple, yet loaded, response: "We have a talent competition." Crystle Stewart, the reigning Miss USA, however, has a different clarification.

"Miss America is the girl next door," she says. "But, Miss USA is the girl you wish lived next door."

Touché.

Her distinction is hard to dispute. Especially considering most Miss USA contestants think of modeling as their talent. Stewart contends, though, that there's no ill will between either organization and, while Miss America has her talent competition, Miss USA has a global competition.

Stewart's own participation in the Miss Universe pageant spurred disbelief worldwide. After she slipped on her gown and spilled to the floor during the evening gown segment, Stewart set the kind of record most beauty queens want nothing to do with. She was the second consecutive Miss USA to take a tumble. Regrets? Hardly. Stewart insists she wouldn't change a thing. Not even her gown's hemline.

"I never thought I'd fall in front of a billion people, but things happen for a reason," she says. "This was just the way the cards were dealt."

It's a far cry from the attitude that got her the crown that started it all. Stewart didn't capture the Miss Texas USA title until her fifth go at it, when she says she finally presented her true self. The African-American beauty counted on what she refers to as "the three P's" to keep throwing her tiara in the circle: patience, persistence and perseverance.

At 27, Stewart's one of the more mature titleholders. She prefers a "Rock of Love" marathon over VIP status at a nightclub and supposed must-have fashion trends make her cringe. Case in point, the harem pants fashion magazines can't get enough of lately. Stewart scrunches up her face when she discusses them, as if she just sunk her teeth into a lemon. She subscribes to the timeless, less is more style philosophy. But fit supersedes even that. The one pet peeve Stewart can't get over is a woman wearing clothing that's either too small or too big for her body.

Although she prefers the classics, Stewart admits her Miss USA stylist nudged her adventurous side. When wearing a tangerine jumper, for instance, brown shoes were replaced with sunshine yellow pumps. Stylists aside, New York City -- where she, Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe shared an apartment -- acted as her biggest fashion influence over the past year. The fashion capital is responsible for introducing the beauty queen to the one accessory she couldn't live without: a knit scully hat.

"When I'm getting ready as Crystle Stewart (not Miss USA), I put on some lotion, then mascara, a little powder and then put my hair back in my hat and I'm ready to go," she says.

Shower included, Stewart can be out the door in 30 minutes when a publicity appearance isn't scheduled. Any event that calls for her sash and crown, though, piles on an hour of prep time. She clips in extra extensions, glues on extra lashes and smooths on extra lipstick. So, when does she feel most beautiful?

"When I'm in my hat. It's because when you get a compliment and you didn't try hard, that's when you feel good," she explains. "I can make anyone look great with makeup and lashes."