Carrie Prejean

Caroline Michelle "Carrie" Prejean Boller (/preɪˈʒɑːn/; born May 13, 1987) is an American model, former Miss California USA 2009, and Miss USA 2009 first runner-up. Later, Prejean was stripped of her Miss California USA crown for alleged breaches of contract. Contentious litigation between Prejean and the Miss California organization was settled in November 2009. Later that month, Prejean released a book relating the story from her point of view.

Carrie Prejean
Former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean
Born
Caroline Michelle Prejean

(1987-05-13) May 13, 1987[1]
San Diego, California, U.S.
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
TitleMiss California USA 2009
Spouse(s)
(
m. 2010)
Children2
Beauty pageant titleholder
Hair colorBlonde
Eye colorGreen
Major
competition(s)		Miss USA 2009
(1st runner-up)

Biography

Early years

Prejean was born in San Diego, California, to Francine (Coppola) and Wilbert Prejean. Her mother is an Italian American, and her father is of French descent.[2] She was raised in an evangelical Christian 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".[3] 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.[4] 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."[5] 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 Vista High School. She studied at San Diego Christian College, an evangelical private school located in El Cajon, California, and attends the Rock Church, where she volunteers with their outreach ministries,[6] including JC's Girls.[7] Prejean also volunteers with Luv-em-Up Ministries in El Cajon, where she works with children with developmental disabilities.[8] She is studying to become a special education teacher.[2]

Modeling

Prejean has modeled for Target, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, and Nordstrom. She has also appeared in Bliss magazine, as a model for E! Entertainment Television, and in an interactive model search competition for the NBC game show Deal or No Deal. Prejean has been an ambassador for the San Diego Padres as a member of the Pad Squad since 2006.[9]

Beauty pageants

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

Prejean returned the following year and won the Miss California USA 2009 title, succeeding Raquel Beezley as California's representative to the Miss USA pageant. Prejean competed at the nationally televised Miss USA 2009 pageant in 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.[10]

Miss USA 2009

Prejean received nationwide attention over her response to a question about same-sex marriage during the 2009 Miss USA pageant.[11] Prejean was asked by pageant judge Perez Hilton[11] 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.[12][13][14][15]

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.[16] 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.[10] Prejean has also stated that she believes that her answer cost her the crown.[17][18] 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.[19]

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.[12]

Donald Trump, who owns most of the Miss Universe Organization, defended Prejean's answer, saying that "Miss California has done a wonderful job" and that "It wasn't a bad answer. That was simply her belief." He then added that the question was "a bit unlucky" and that no matter which way she answered the question "she was going to get killed".[20] Several elected officials, including Gavin Newsom, mayor of San Francisco and a prominent supporter of same-sex marriage, and political pundits criticized Hilton and defended Prejean for honestly stating her personal beliefs.[21][22][23] 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."[24]

Post-Miss USA Pageant

Later, the National Organization for Marriage used footage from the pageant for a television advertisement that warned that same-sex marriage activists wanted to silence opposition.[25] Prejean also hired a Christian public relations firm.[21] In late April, Prejean presented an award at the Gospel Music Association's 2009 Dove Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.[12] Prejean also spoke at Liberty University's final convocation of the year on April 29, 2009.[26]

On May 1, 2009, Prejean stated on On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren that she did not have an opinion on civil unions for same-sex couples, but that she supports certain rights of same-sex couples, such as hospital visitations.[27] She has stated that she would be willing to meet with representatives from California's largest gay rights group "as long as it's not political".[12]

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,[28][29] 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."[30] Trump went on to compare Prejean's views on same sex-marriage as being in line with those of President Barack Obama,[31] and National Organization for Marriage president Maggie Gallagher stated on May 5 that the release would not affect Prejean's role with her group.[28]

Despite his initial support, Trump agreed to terminate Prejean's contract on June 10, 2009, citing "continued breach of contract issues."[32] Prejean claimed that K2 Productions, producers of the Miss California USA pageant, wanted her to pose for Playboy and appear on the reality television show 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.[32]

In August 2009, Prejean sued Miss California USA officials on a variety of civil grounds, including libel, slander, religious discrimination, and the unauthorized release of private medical records.[33] K2 Productions and pageant officials filed counterclaims seeking the profits from Prejean's forthcoming book, which it claims was written in violation of the Miss California USA contract, and the return of $5,200 loaned to Prejean for breast implants.[34] On November 3, 2009, Prejean and K2 announced a settlement with undisclosed terms, with both sides dropping their lawsuits.[35] 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.[36]

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.[37] 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.[38] 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."[39][40]

Personal life

On July 2, 2010, Prejean married former NFL quarterback Kyle Boller[41] in San Diego, California.[42] On November 11, 2010, they announced that they were expecting a child in May 2011.[43] The couple's first child arrived on May 11, a girl named Grace Christina.[44] She and Boller next had a son named Brody, born in 2013.[45]

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References
  1. Date of birth found on the California Birth Index 1905–1995, under PREJEAN, CAROLINE MICHELLE, on May 13, 1987 in San Diego County.
  2. "Miss California USA: Official Website: Celebrating the Beauty of California". Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  3. Miller, Tracy (May 7, 2009). "Court docs: Miss California USA Carrie Prejean's parents used homosexuality as an insult". New York Daily News. New York City: Tronc. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  4. "Carrie Prejean -- The Origin of Homophobia". TMZ. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  5. Prejean, Carrie (November 9, 2009). Still Standing: The Untold Story of My Fight Against Gossip, Hate, and Political Attacks. Regnery Publishing. ISBN 9781596986022. divorce.
  6. "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.
  7. Ron Donoho (April 27, 2009). "Church, Padres Welcome Miss Cali Home". KNSD. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  8. Babbit, Jed (November 11, 2009). "Carrie Prejean Says Gays Intolerant". Human Events. Washington DC: Salem Communications. Archived from the original on February 25, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  9. Gaslamp Ball (May 16, 2008). "Gaslamp Ball Interview: Pad Squad Carrie". GaslampBall.com. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
  10. "Gay marriage row at Miss USA show". BBC News. April 20, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
  11. Marisa Taylor (April 22, 2009). "Perez Hilton and Miss USA Contestant Debate Gay Marriage". Wall Street Journal.
  12. "Carrie Prejean says she was asked to apologize for gay marriage comments, but refused". New York Daily News. New York City: Tronc. Associated Press. April 27, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
  13. "Timeline of the Carrie Prejean Controversy". Fox News. May 11, 2009. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  14. Goodwin, Christopher (April 21, 2009). "Here she is, Miss Marriage Martyr USA". Salon.com. San Francisco, California: Salon Media Group. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  15. Goodwin, Christopher (April 25, 2009). "California beauty queen Carrie Prejean becomes Republican hero". The Guardian. London, England: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  16. Fisher, Luchina (April 20, 2009). "Perez Hilton 'Floored' by Miss California". ABC News. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
  17. "Carrie Prejean Says Answer to Gay Marriage Question Cost Her Miss USA Crown". FoxNews.com. April 20, 2009. Archived from the original on May 4, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
  18. Orr, Jimmy (April 20, 2009). "Miss California sparks outrage over gay marriage remarks". Christian Science Monitor. Boston, Massachusetts: Christian Science Publishing Society. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
  19. "Former Miss California: I was smeared". Today.com. Mclean, Virginia: Gannett Company. November 10, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  20. "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.
  21. "Miss California, Carrie Prejean, Signs With Top Christian Publicity Firm". U.S. News & World Report. Washington DC: U.S. News and World Report, L.P. April 27, 2009. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  22. Baier, Bret (April 24, 2009). "Miss California Continues to Grab Headlines". foxnews.com. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  23. Shin, Tony (April 23, 2009). "Newsom Defends Miss California". NBC News. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  24. Bruni, Frank (November 15, 2009). "A Sapphic Victory, but Pyrrhic". The New York Times. New York City: New York Times Company. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
  25. "New ad warns same-sex 'marriage' activists want to silence opposition". Denver, Colorado: Catholic News Agency. May 1, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  26. "A Carrie Prejean moment at Liberty University". Liberty University. May 9, 2009. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  27. "Miss USA 1st Runner-up Carrie Prejean Goes 'On the Record'". On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren. May 1, 2009. Fox News. Archived from the original on May 4, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
  28. Leff, Lisa (May 5, 2009). "California pageant eyes Prejean for contract violations". San Jose Mercury News. San Jose, California: Digital First Media. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  29. Miller, Korin (May 7, 2009). "Miss California Miss USA Carrie Prejean may lose her title over little white lie, nudie pics". New York Daily News. Los Angeles, California: Tronc. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
  30. Hall, Carla (May 13, 2009). "Trump says Miss California USA can keep her crown despite uproar". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California: Tronc. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  31. Burns, Alexander (May 2, 2011). "Trump on Prejean: Same as Obama". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Seattle, Washington: Hearst Corporation. Politico.com. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  32. McKay, Hollie (June 10, 2009). "Exclusive: Miss California Carrie Prejean to Lose Her Crown". Fox News. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
  33. "Former Miss California USA sues pageant officials". CNN.com. August 31, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
  34. Duke, Alan (October 20, 2009). "Miss California USA sued over breast implant money". CNN.com. Retrieved October 24, 2009.
  35. Duke, Alan (November 3, 2009). "Prejean settles lawsuits with Miss California USA pageant". CNN.com. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  36. Duke, Alan (November 4, 2009). "Source: Carrie Prejean 'sex tape' spurred pageant settlement". CNN.com. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  37. Prejean, Carrie (2009). Still Standing: The Untold Story of My Fight Against Gossip, Hate, and Political Attacks. USA: Regnery Publishing. ISBN 1-59698-602-6. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  38. "Book Details – Still Standing". Regnery Publishing. Regnery Publishing. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  39. Lapowsky, Issie (November 12, 2009). "Carrie Prejean throws temper tantrum on 'Larry King Live'; calls host 'inappropriate'". New York Daily News. New York City: Tronc.
  40. Shapiro, Lila (November 12, 2009). "Carrie Prejean Threatens To Walk Off "Larry King" (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. New York City: Huffington Post Media Group. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  41. "Carrie Prejean & NFL Star Engaged". Yahoo! News. February 8, 2010. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  42. Rosenbaum, Claudia; Masters, Megan (July 3, 2010). "Carrie Prejean and Footballer Beau Tie the Knot". E! Online. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  43. Nudd, Tim (November 11, 2010). "Carrie Prejean Is Pregnant". People. New York City: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  44. 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.
  45. Aushenker, Michael (June 8, 2018). "Kyle Boller moving to another chapter in life". Santa Clarita Valley Signal. San Jose, California: Paladin Multimedia Group. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Leah Laviano		 Miss USA 1st Runner-Up
2009		 Succeeded by
Morgan Woolard
Preceded by
Raquel Beezley		 Miss California USA
2009		 Succeeded by
Tami Farrell
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