Former Miss North Carolina USA speaks out after losing her crown

Former Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse is breaking her silence after being stripped of her title just weeks after being crowned.

The Miss USA Organization announced on Aug. 5 that Boltinhouse was no longer the reigning Miss North Carolina USA 2026. According to Thom Brodeur, chairman and CEO of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, the decision was reached jointly by Boltinhouse, her state directors and the organization after conduct that allegedly violated the pageant’s standards.

Now, Boltinhouse is sharing her side of the story.

Boltinhouse Says Her Beliefs Played a Role

In an interview with Carolina Journal editor-in-chief Donna King, posted to YouTube on Friday, Aug. 7, Boltinhouse said she believes her title was taken away because of her beliefs as a “conservative Christian woman.”

When King asked whether she felt her “conservative political and social values” had hurt her during her time in the pageant, Boltinhouse stood by her convictions.

“I’m proud of my standards. I’m a proud conservative woman, but a Christian woman. I’m a God-fearing woman,” she said.

Boltinhouse also explained that she is limited in what she can reveal about the circumstances surrounding her dethroning because she signed an agreement containing a “confidentiality clause.”

“I’m not allowed to speak about things” that led to her losing the title, she said.

Despite the situation, Boltinhouse said she has found peace and believes she can ultimately move forward from the controversy.

“I’m very much at peace and I’m actually glad it happened to me and not some other young lady that, you know, maybe just probably wouldn’t make it through what I’m going through right now,” she said.

“The scrutiny, my family behind it as well. But I will say that I’m very much at peace and I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I know who I am and I know what I can become.”

Does Being Conservative Hurt in Pageantry?

During the interview, King also asked Boltinhouse whether she felt being conservative could be “disqualifying to a degree in the pageant system.”

Boltinhouse disagreed, arguing that people should be free to hold conservative beliefs.

“No, I think that in any system, not just in pageantry, I think you have the right to be a conservative in this country,” she said. “It’s a constitutional right.”

When King specifically asked whether supporting President Donald Trump could be viewed as disqualifying by the pageant organization, Boltinhouse said she couldn't say for certain.

“I don’t know. I don’t know. All I can say from the information that I have today and what I believe and I think is honestly I don’t know,” she said. “I wasn’t really given anything.”

She later made her position clear, adding, “All I can say is that I think and believe that my title was ripped from me because of my beliefs.”

Why Was Boltinhouse Dethroned?

Boltinhouse, who is from Beulaville, North Carolina, was crowned Miss North Carolina USA on June 28. Her reign lasted just over a month before the organization announced her removal.

At the time, Brodeur did not publicly identify the specific conduct that prompted the decision. However, he made it clear that the organization takes its conduct standards seriously.

In his statement, Brodeur said the Miss USA Organization “does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity.”

“That is not a policy written for a press release,” he wrote. “It is the floor of what it means to represent this brand.”

Brodeur also stressed that winning a crown comes with responsibilities that extend beyond the pageant stage.

“A title here isn’t a trinket. It is a position of trust, extended by an organization and accepted by a woman who agrees to carry a standard in public,” he said. “When that standard is broken, the title cannot continue as though nothing happened.”

Pageant Organization Says Decision Wasn't About One Incident

According to Brodeur, Boltinhouse's removal was not prompted by one isolated incident.

“What was brought to us was not a single moment,” he said. “It reflected conduct over an extended period of time. That is why this outcome was reached, and I stand behind it without qualification.”

Brodeur also referenced a statement previously issued by Boltinhouse, saying it demonstrated “ownership, accountability and apology.”

“While it does not undo the harm, and it does not change the outcome, it is the beginning of the only thing that ever repairs harm, which is change,” he said.

“These are moments where reflection leads to possibility and growth,” Brodeur continued. “I believe the best you have to offer this world is ahead of you.”

Myla Hadley Takes Over the Crown

With Boltinhouse officially out, Myla Hadley will take over as Miss North Carolina USA 2026.

Brodeur said Hadley has the organization’s “full confidence and our support” as she steps into the role.

For now, Boltinhouse maintains that she was not given enough information about the decision and believes her conservative Christian views ultimately cost her the crown.