Miss California Carrie Prejean and Perez Hilton Enter War of Words

With all the publicity she's getting, you would think Miss California Carrie Prejean had won the 2009 Miss USA Pageant. Still, she's really earning her Miss Congeniality title as she has drawn considerable criticism from gay rights groups and activists since Sunday evening.

The Miss California Carrie Prejean / Perez Hilton fight/scandal/controversy has entered a second day of Prejean appearing on television and radio defending her unfortunately worded remarks at the Miss USA Pageant Sunday evening. Miss California, who was the first runner-up in the competition is believed to have lost the crown to Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton because of her statement in answer to Perez Hilton's question on her opinion of gay marriage. She appeared on NBC's "Today Show" and spoke with Matt Lauer about the controversy Tuesday.

On Monday, she spoke with Access Hollywood, talked to Billy Bush on his radio program (he also co-hosted the 2009 Miss USA Pageant), and appeared on Fox News.

She told Fox News that "God was testing my character and my faith."

And she defends her stance although Prejean told Billy Bush that she believes her answer cost her the Miss USA crown. She added, " "I wouldn't have had it any other way. I said what I feel. I stated an opinion that was true to myself and that's all I can do."

Many took offense at her remarks, including Miss USA judge Perez Hilton, who posed it. But there are just as many who found nothing wrong with her statement, that it was just an honest reflection of Miss California's personal viewpoint on gay marriage.

She's against it. And the way she worded her answer seems to have infuriated Perez Hilton, who called her a "dumb bitch" on his video blog, then apologized, but only for calling her a "dumb bitch." (Apparently, the "half a brain" lines were still valid.) Hilton was on CNBC and "Larry King Live" Monday. Hilton told Larry King that the question was vetted by the Pageant producers and was not meant to be difficult or the bomb that it became.

Miss California was the clear frontrunner going into the interview round Sunday evening in Las Vegas at the 2009 Miss USA Pageant. But after giving a stumbling answer, saying that she was proud to live a nation where there could be a choice between same-sex marriage and "opposite marriage," Carrie Prejean ended with: "In my country, and in my family, I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman."

Moments later, the frontrunner proved how much she earned the Miss Congeniality title by keeping a huge smile on her face as the name of Kristen Dalton was named the 2009 Miss USA Pageant winner.

But the controversy / scandal began after Perez Hilton began his verbal crusade against Miss California. Hilton maintains Miss California lost the Miss USA Pageant because of her dumb answer, not because she was anti-same-sex marriage. Many believe that Hilton, who is openly homosexual, derailed the frontrunner beause of that answer. To her credit, Carrie Underwood has yet to sound off on Hilton. After all, she was voted MIss Congeniality.

Prejean has mentioned several times that her sister, who is in the Air Force, is a gay rights activist (although not gay herself, she has been quick to add). She told Bush, "That's what's so great about being an American - we're able to have our own opinions."

And it was Perez Hilton's opinion that most likely cost Miss California the points necessary to win the Miss USA crown.

"I feel like I won. I feel like I'm the winner," she told Billy Bush, explaining that her Facebook page had been inundated with favorable comments.

Miss USA Kristen Dalton may feel as if Carrie Prejean won as well, considering that Dalton's name has barely gotten a mention since she was crowned. Meanwhile, Carrie Prejean is on the tip of many tongues. Her stance against same-sex marriage has become the hot topic on talk shows and news programs all across the United States.

Miss USA Kristen Dalton is a motivational speaker. A little self-motivational speaking may now be in order.

Especially since this controversy seems to be far from over. With it being aired constantly and many taking sides, there is little doubt that Carrie Prejean will be swept up by the political right as a darling of their anti-gay marriage stance. Which means she'll be on Fox News nearly nonstop.

Sometimes it's good not to come in first place.

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Sources:

"The Billy Bush Show"

"2009 Miss USA Pageant," NBC Television

"Larry King Live," CNN Television

Fox News