Carrie Prejean

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Carrie Prejean
Carrie Prejean, winner of Miss California USA 2009.
Former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean
Born
Caroline Michelle Prejean

1987 (age 36–37)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Spouse
​
(m. 2010)​
Children2
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss California USA 2009
Hair colorBlonde
Eye colorGreen
Major
competition(s)		Miss USA 2009
(1st runner-up)

Caroline Michelle "Carrie" Prejean Boller (/preɪˈʒɑːn/; born 1987) is an American model, former Miss California USA 2009, and Miss USA 2009 first runner-up. Prejean was stripped of her Miss California USA crown for alleged breaches of contract. Litigation between Prejean and the Miss California USA organization was settled in November 2009. Later that month, Prejean released a book relating events from her point of view.

Early years

Prejean was born in

evangelical household in Vista, California. In 1996, Prejean's parents separated and subsequently started divorce proceedings. According to her autobiography, Prejean considered the divorce a "trauma that irrevocably shaped the rest of my life".[2] The divorce was a bitter one with accusations of poor behavior and homosexuality on both sides, and custody proceedings lasted an entire decade, by which time Prejean and her sister were already grown up.[3] Prejean stated in her autobiography that her parents "were being selfish" when they broke up the family and that the divorce "put distance between me and my parents".[4]
She also explained that the divorce took a severe financial toll on the family, tarnished her childhood, and motivated her to provide her own children with a stable home.

Prejean graduated in 2005 from

ministries,[5] including JC's Girls.[6] Prejean also volunteers with Luv-em-Up Ministries in El Cajon, where she works with children with developmental disabilities.[7] She studied to become a special education teacher.[1]

Modeling

Prejean has modeled for

Deal or No Deal. Prejean has been an ambassador for the San Diego Padres as a member of the Pad Squad since 2006.[8]

Beauty pageants

In 2007, she competed in the Miss California USA 2008 beauty pageant and was first runner-up.[citation needed]

Prejean returned the following year and won the Miss California USA 2009 title, succeeding

Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19, 2009, and placed first runner-up. Prejean's answer to her final question during the pageant became the subject of controversy.[9]

Miss USA 2009

Main article:
Miss USA 2009 controversy

Prejean received nationwide attention over her response to a question about same-sex marriage during the 2009 Miss USA pageant.[10] Prejean was asked by pageant judge Perez Hilton[10] whether she believed every U.S. state should legalize same-sex marriage. She responded:

Well, I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one way or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And, you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that, I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, no offense to anybody out there. But that's how I was raised and I believe that it should be between a man and a woman.[11][12][13][14]

The media attention intensified after Hilton added a video blog post to his website, and made comments there and elsewhere, disparaging Prejean and her answer to the question.[15] Hilton stated: "She gave an awful, awful answer that alienated so many people." He also told ABC News that she lost the crown because of how she answered the question.[9] Prejean has also stated that she believes that her answer cost her the crown.[16][17] Of that moment, Prejean has written:

I was being dared—in front of the entire world—to give a candid answer to a serious question. I knew if I told the truth, I would lose all that I was competing for: the crown, the luxury apartment in New York City, the large salary—everything that went with the Miss USA title. I also knew, or suspected, that I was the frontrunner, and if I gritted my teeth and gave the politically correct answer, I could be Miss USA.[18]

Prejean stated that she was told by Miss California USA pageant officials that she "need[ed] to not talk about" her faith and was pressured to apologize for her statement.[11]

pundits criticized Hilton and defended Prejean for honestly stating her personal beliefs.[20][21][22] The New York Times opinion editorial columnist Frank Bruni said her beliefs are representative of mainstream U.S. opinion on the issue, stating "while a majority of Americans believe that gay couples should be able to enter into unions with some of the legal protections of marriage," only "a minority believe that gays and lesbians should be permitted to 'marry,' per se."[23]

Post-Miss USA Pageant

The

2009 Dove Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.[11] Prejean also spoke at Liberty University's final convocation of the year on April 29, 2009.[25]

On May 1, 2009, Prejean stated on

gay rights group "as long as it's not political".[11]

Contract termination

Pageant organizers investigated Prejean for violating the terms of her contract after a photograph of Prejean partially nude with her back turned to the camera appeared on a celebrity gossip blog. Prejean defended the shots as legitimate modeling,[27][28] and Miss USA owner Donald Trump agreed, stating, "We are in the 21st century. We have determined the pictures taken are fine" and that "in some cases the pictures were lovely."[29] Trump went on to compare Prejean's views on same sex-marriage as being in line with those of President Barack Obama,[30] and National Organization for Marriage president Maggie Gallagher stated on May 5 that the release would not affect Prejean's role with her group.[27]

Despite his initial support, Trump agreed to terminate Prejean's contract on June 10, 2009, citing "continued breach of contract issues".

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here!, though K2 Productions executive Keith Lewis claimed he was simply notifying Prejean of all offers for appearances.[31]

In August 2009, Prejean sued Miss California USA officials on a variety of civil grounds, including

settlement with undisclosed terms, with both sides dropping their lawsuits.[34] CNN subsequently reported that Prejean's settlement with Miss California USA officials was prompted by the revelation of a "sex tape", a home video involving Prejean.[35]

Writing

In November 2009, Prejean released a memoir titled Still Standing: The Untold Story of My Fight Against Gossip, Hate, and Political Attacks through conservative publisher Regnery Publishing.[36] The book explores what Prejean believes were unfair attacks by those in the media that leaned left and what she characterized as "a vindictive smear campaign" from Hollywood, while also focusing on her conservative values.[37] In an incident that occurred while promoting the book, Prejean left the set during an interview on Larry King Live, after King asked her why she settled her lawsuit with the Miss California USA pageant, calling the host "inappropriate".[38][39]

Personal life

On July 2, 2010, Prejean married former NFL quarterback Kyle Boller[40] in San Diego, California.[41] On November 11, 2010, they announced that they were expecting a child in May 2011.[42] The couple's first child arrived on May 11, a girl,[43] followed by a son, Brody, in 2013.[44]

Political activity

In late August, 2021, Prejean spoke at an Encinitas, California school board meeting, announcing her plan to campaign against some of the school board members when they ran for reelection. She decried the mandatory masking at schools that was taking place in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, stated that she would unmask her children, and that the pandemic was over.[45]

In 2022 she claimed on Fox News that a local school board Halloween event that had a drag queen was a front for child grooming. She stated “Every single one of these board members, we called them out for exactly who they are. They’re groomers."[46]

References

  1. ^ a b "Miss California USA: Official Website: Celebrating the Beauty of California". Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  2. Tronc
    . Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  3. ^ "Carrie Prejean -- The Origin of Homophobia". TMZ. May 7, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  4. ISBN 9781596986022
    . divorce.
  5. ^ "Christian college student is Miss USA first-runner up". Christian Examiner. Los Angeles, California: Christian Examiner Newspapers. May 2009. Archived from the original on December 25, 2010.
  6. ^ Ron Donoho (April 27, 2009). "Church, Padres Welcome Miss Cali Home". KNSD. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  7. Salem Communications. Archived from the original
    on February 25, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  8. ^ Gaslamp Ball (May 16, 2008). "Gaslamp Ball Interview: Pad Squad Carrie". GaslampBall.com. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
  9. ^ a b "Gay marriage row at Miss USA show". BBC News. April 20, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
  10. ^ a b Marisa Taylor (April 22, 2009). "Perez Hilton and Miss USA Contestant Debate Gay Marriage". The Wall Street Journal.
  11. ^
    Tronc. Associated Press. April 27, 2009. Archived from the original
    on April 30, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
  12. ^ "Timeline of the Carrie Prejean Controversy". Fox News. May 11, 2009. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  13. Salon Media Group
    . Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  14. ^ Goodwin, Christopher (April 25, 2009). "California beauty queen Carrie Prejean becomes Republican hero". The Guardian. London, England. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  15. ^ Fisher, Luchina (April 20, 2009). "Perez Hilton 'Floored' by Miss California". ABC News. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
  16. FoxNews.com. April 20, 2009. Archived from the original
    on May 4, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
  17. ^ Orr, Jimmy (April 20, 2009). "Miss California sparks outrage over gay marriage remarks". The Christian Science Monitor. Boston, Massachusetts: Christian Science Publishing Society. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
  18. Gannett Company
    . November 10, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  19. ^ "Exclusive: Donald Trump Breaks Silence on Miss California's Gay Marriage Comments". FoxNews.com. April 24, 2009. Archived from the original on April 26, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
  20. ^ a b "Miss California, Carrie Prejean, Signs With Top Christian Publicity Firm". U.S. News & World Report. Washington DC: U.S. News & World Report, L.P. April 27, 2009. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  21. ^ Baier, Bret (April 24, 2009). "Miss California Continues to Grab Headlines". foxnews.com. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  22. ^ Shin, Tony (April 23, 2009). "Newsom Defends Miss California". NBC News. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  23. ^ Bruni, Frank (November 15, 2009). "A Sapphic Victory, but Pyrrhic". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
  24. ^ "New ad warns same-sex 'marriage' activists want to silence opposition". Denver, Colorado: Catholic News Agency. May 1, 2009. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  25. ^ "A Carrie Prejean moment at Liberty University". Liberty University. May 9, 2009. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  26. On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren. May 1, 2009. Fox News. Archived from the original
    on May 4, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
  27. ^
    San Jose Mercury News. San Jose, California: Digital First Media
    . Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  28. Tronc. Archived from the original
    on August 22, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
  29. ^ Hall, Carla (May 13, 2009). "Trump says Miss California USA can keep her crown despite uproar". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  30. Politico.com
    . Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  31. ^ a b McKay, Hollie (June 10, 2009). "Exclusive: Miss California Carrie Prejean to Lose Her Crown". Fox News. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
  32. ^ "Former Miss California USA sues pageant officials". CNN.com. August 31, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
  33. ^ Duke, Alan (October 20, 2009). "Miss California USA sued over breast implant money". CNN.com. Retrieved October 24, 2009.
  34. ^ Duke, Alan (November 3, 2009). "Prejean settles lawsuits with Miss California USA pageant". CNN.com. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  35. CNN.com
    . Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  36. ISBN 978-1-59698-602-2
    . Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  37. ^ "Book Details – Still Standing". Regnery Publishing. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  38. Tronc. Archived from the original
    on November 15, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  39. Huffington Post
    . New York City. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  40. ^ "Carrie Prejean & NFL Star Engaged". Yahoo! News. February 8, 2010. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  41. E! Online
    . Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  42. ^ Nudd, Tim (November 11, 2010). "Carrie Prejean Is Pregnant". People. New York City: Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  43. ^ Schafer, Jenny (May 30, 2011). "Carrie Prejean Welcomes First Child: Grace Christina". Celebrity Baby Scoop. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  44. Santa Clarita Valley Signal. San Jose, California: Paladin Multimedia Group. Archived from the original
    on October 3, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  45. ^ Douglas, Stephen (August 30, 2021). "Carrie Prejean Boller Says the Pandemic is Over, Threatens to Run For School Board". The Big Lead. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  46. ^ Hansford, Amelia (October 16, 2022). "Model says pro-LGBTQ+ school committee should be jailed". PinkNews. Retrieved October 18, 2022.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Mississippi Leah Laviano
 Miss USA 1st Runner-Up
2009 		Succeeded by
Oklahoma Morgan Woolard
Preceded by
Raquel Beezley
 Miss California USA
2009 		Succeeded by
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