Brittany Boltinhouse, 27, was stripped of her Miss North Carolina title less than a month after winning it, with pageant officials citing "recently surfaced information." A Blaize Productions, the organization overseeing the Miss USA pageants in North Carolina, rescinded her title and crowned runner-up Myla Hadley. The decision came after posts containing a racial slur, believed to be from an X account belonging to Boltinhouse, circulated online.
Boltinhouse, however, has countered that her removal from the pageant was not due to the alleged posts but rather a consequence of her political and religious identity. In an interview with the Carolina Journal, she stated that she believes she was targeted because she is a "conservative Christian woman" and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
"I also love this country. That's something I want to make clear," Boltinhouse said, expressing her belief in "A nation under God." She described herself as a "proud conservative" and "God-fearing" woman.
When questioned about the resurfaced posts, Boltinhouse did not confirm their authenticity but suggested that "every teenager has made a mistake." She emphasized her current identity, stating, "I'm not really here to talk about that. I'm here to talk about the woman I am today." Boltinhouse pointed to her Miss Congeniality award, which recognizes character, as evidence of her positive attributes. She also noted her distinction as the first married woman to hold the Miss North Carolina title, a fact she expressed pride in.
Thom Brodeur, the chairman of Miss USA, addressed the situation in a statement on Instagram, asserting that the organization "does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity." He explained that a pageant title represents a "position of trust" and that when this standard is violated, the title cannot be maintained. Brodeur clarified that the decision was based on "conduct over an extended period of time" and that the organization acted once the information reached them.
Boltinhouse described her pageant experience as a "dream to a nightmare" but stated she has made peace with her departure. She expressed forgiveness for those who made the decision to strip her of her title, believing they too make mistakes. Boltinhouse declined to provide further details about the events leading to her disqualification, citing a confidentiality clause, but maintained that the narrative against her was inaccurate. Her family has also suggested they would respond with a "proper narrative" after prayer and reflection.