Miss North Carolina USA dethroned in statement decrying racism, homophobia
Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse has been stripped of her crown.
Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Chairman and CEO Thom Brodeur announced Wednesday that the 27-year-old beauty pageant winner‘s reign had come to an end only 38 days after she won her state’s title.
While he made no specific mention of what prompted his organization’s decision, Brodeur’s statement says, “The Miss USA Organization does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity — whoever they are.”
The move comes amid allegations from a local independent media outlet that Boltinhouse had posted insensitive social media messages between 2017 and 2019 under an alias.
“What was brought to us was not a single moment,” Brodeur wrote. “It reflected conduct over an extended period of time. That is why this outcome was reached, and I stand behind it without qualification.”
Pageant organizing company Blaize Productions cited “recently surfaced information” for its decision to part ways with Boltinhouse.
Brodeur said that he expected Boltinhouse to release a statement that he’s already seen expressing “ownership, accountability and apology.”
He also asked the public to show her tolerance.
“There is a young woman at the center of this. She has been named, examined, and judged in public in a way that most of us would not survive, and she is still a human being with a family, a future, and a life ahead of her that is longer than this part of her journey,” he added.
Runner-up Myla Hadley will now represent the Tar Heel State on Aug. 27 when a new Miss USA is chosen in Florida. The pageant is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
Boltinhouse was the first woman of Honduran descent to win the title.
