The Miss North Carolina USA crown has been taken away from Brittany Boltinhouse after a dispute over her past online posts and her claim that her conservative Christian beliefs cost her the title. The pageant’s organizers say the decision had nothing to do with her politics or religion and instead stemmed from the full record of her conduct and public comments.
Blaize Productions, which holds the North Carolina state license for Miss USA, said the action was based on “the totality of the circumstances” surrounding Boltinhouse’s speech. In its statement, the organization said the decision was not tied to her political views, religious beliefs, or other protected personal viewpoints. It added that the group includes people from many different backgrounds and values and says it welcomes that mix.
Boltinhouse, 27, won Miss North Carolina USA in June but kept the crown only for a matter of weeks before it was revoked this week. She told the Carolina Journal that she believed she lost the title because of her stance as a conservative Christian woman. Boltinhouse, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said she is proud of her faith, her standards, and her love of the country. She also said she would not back away from her religious convictions.
The organizers pointed to old social media posts that resurfaced and included repeated use of the N-word. Their statement said the review covered previously undisclosed conduct and public content spread across multiple years, and that it did not meet the standards expected of a Miss North Carolina USA titleholder under the agreements tied to the position. Miss USA President and CEO Thom Brodeur also said earlier in the week that the pageant does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia, or language that takes away another person’s dignity. He said the remarks reflected conduct over an extended period of time and added that a title is a position of trust, not a prize that can stay in place after the standard has been broken.
