Former Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse has publicly stated that she believes her conservative political views and religious convictions were the reasons for her dethronement, rather than alleged racist social media posts.
Boltinhhouse, 27, expressed this sentiment in an interview with the Carolina Journal, breaking her silence since the organization formally stripped her of the title on Wednesday. Organizers cited a "thorough review of recently surfaced information" as the basis for their decision.
"I believe and think I was stripped from my title because of my political stance and my belief system as a conservative Christian woman," Boltinhouse told the publication. She further emphasized her faith, identifying as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a "God-fearing woman."
The controversy leading to her dethronement emerged after resurfaced social media posts allegedly containing the N-word multiple times and self-referential "toxic" statements, posted under the username 'Sosa the Stallion,' prompted the pageant organizers to investigate.
Following Boltinhouse's ouster, the crown was passed to runner-up Myla Hadley. While Boltinhouse stated she does not know with certainty if her conservative beliefs were the disqualifying factor, she asserted that expressing one's political views is a constitutional right and that she stands by her principles.
Attempts to reach Miss North Carolina USA and its overseeing body, A-Blaize Productions, for comment on Boltinhouse's statements were made by The Post.