Myla Hadley, the first runner-up in the Miss North Carolina USA pageant, has spoken about receiving the crown after the dethronement of Brittany Boltinhouse, but did not address the alleged racism scandal that led to the change.
Hadley, 24, stated on Instagram Stories that she is "extremely grateful and humbled" by the support she has received. She expressed confidence in her preparedness for the upcoming Miss USA national finals in Miami, noting her ongoing preparation since first competing with the organization.
"I understand the seriousness and level of prestige that this title carries and I can confidently say that both my team and I are ready to take this on," Hadley wrote. "While this may seem like a two-week turnaround given the circumstances, I’ve been preparing to represent at Miss USA since I first competed with this organization. I am ready to represent North Carolina. Thank you all again for your motivation, support, and well wishes."
Boltinhouse, 27, was stripped of her title after pageant organizers, A-Blaize Productions, conducted a "thorough review of recently surfaced information." The organization stated the decision was not made lightly and was based on the "totality of the circumstances and our responsibility to preserve the integrity of the Miss North Carolina USA title and the values of our organization."
Pageant officials emphasized their commitment to upholding standards and values that titleholders agree to embrace. Thom Brodeur, the Miss USA president and CEO, indicated that the decision was linked to "conduct over an extended period of time" without specifying the exact cause.
Boltinhouse, a business owner from Wilmington, has been accused of posting racist remarks under an alias on social media between 2017 and 2019, according to reports. She was the first Honduran model to win the Miss North Carolina title.