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Tami Farrell Assigned as an Alternate to Carrie Prejean

In Beverly Hills today, a press conference was held with Miss California USA pageant officials Keith Lewis and Shanna Moakler to discuss the future of the Miss California USA brand and Carrie Prejean.

Lewis started the news conference by saying that Carrie Prejean did not lose the Miss USA pageant because of her answer to Perez Hilton’s question about gay marriage. Lewis noted that Prejean scored third in the swimsuit category, and second in evening gown; and that her answer to Hilton’s question “didn’t provide anough edge to win.” Lewis went on to say that they do not condone the attacks on Prejean and that the scrutiny she has been subjected to is unfair.

Shanna Moakler included that Carrie Prejean’s semi-nude photo’s were not the issue, rather the non-disclosure of the existence of the photos when she entered the pageant in the first place.

Moakler stated that Prejean, like all pageant contestants, was given document asking for full disclosure which is not cause for dismissal but which does determine eligibility. Moaklers stated that because Prejean did not fully disclose everything in her application she entered the pagaent under false pretenses.

Moakler went on to mention that Prejean has conducted appearances and other projects such as a recent telemarkting message “for marriage” while missing appearances and making herself unavailable to the Miss California USA project.

Keith Lewis made a powerful statement addressing those organizations and then Maggie Gallagher directly. He said to them:

Shame. Shame. Shame. Shame.

Here is the video from the first portion of the conference:

Lewis shamed them for taking advantage of Prejean and exploiting her to further their agenda, while putting her into a firestorm unprepared and positioning her to lose her crown.

They went on to show the new Miss California USA campaign “I Believe” PSA which was put together without Prejean last week to re-focus and rebuild the brand.

Here is that video:

After showing the PSA, Miss California USA runner-up Tami Farrell was announced as the Beauty California Ambassador and appointed as the Miss California “alternate”.

Lewis and Moakler answered questions for the press stating that Farrell was appointed as an alternate in cases where current Miss California Carrie Prejean is not available to fulfill her duties. Lewis confirmed that Donald Trump will make the ultimate decision as to whether Prejean will keep the crown or not, yet would not say whether he felt she should be asked to give it up or not. Lewis says that Miss California USA will stand by Trump’s decision either way. Lewis confirmed that Tami Farell would in fact replace Carrie Prejean if forced to give up her crown.

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her online by visiting her website at www.juliephineas.com.