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The former Miss North Carolina USA believes she was stripped of her title because of her religious beliefs and political stances, she said in a Friday interview.
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Brittany Boltinhouse, of the eastern North Carolina town of Beulaville, became the third Latina and first Honduran woman to win Miss North Carolina USA at its June competition. But Miss USA CEO Thom Brodeur wrote in a statement Wednesday night that she would no longer bear the crown upon the organization learning of conduct “over an extended period of time,” The News & Observer reported.
Brodeur did not explain how Boltinhouse violated Miss North Carolina USA policies but wrote that the organization “does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity — no matter who they are.”
In a Friday interview with the right-leaning Carolina Journal, Boltinhouse said she was limited in what she could say because of a confidentiality agreement, but said she believed her “belief system as a Christian conservative woman” was responsible for Miss USA stripping her of the title.
The News & Observer has reached out to Brodeur, Miss USA and A Blaize Productions, the license holder for Miss North Carolina USA, to ask for comment on Boltinhouse’s interview and what prompted the decision to replace her. None have yet responded.
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Friday’s interview was the first time Boltinhouse addressed the pageant controversy publicly. Brodeur wrote Wednesday that Boltinhouse’s statement would come after his — and that was intentional.
“I have seen Brittany’s statement,” Brodeur wrote Wednesday. “There is ownership, accountability and apology. While it does not undo the harm, and it does not change the outcome, it is the beginning of the only thing that ever repairs harm, which is change.”
The N&O asked Miss USA if Boltinhouse’s Friday comments reflected the statement Brodeur reviewed.
Business broker and herbal medicine company owner Myla Hadley accepted the Miss North Carolina USA title in Boltinhouse’s place. Hadley will represent North Carolina in Miami at the Miss USA pageant from Aug. 24-27.
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This is a developing story and will be updated.