Miss California Fired

Miss California Carrie Prejean was fired by pageant officials due to contract violations, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"This was a decision based solely on contract violations including Ms. Prejean's unwillingness to make appearances on behalf of the Miss California USA organization," said the co-executive director of the Miss California USA pageant, Keith Lewis.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Prejean fired back at pageant producers and pageant owner Donald Trump upon hearing the news, claiming that the contract violations cited as reasons for her termination were actually encouraged by Lewis.

"What's behind this, I think, is a political debate," Prejean said. "They don't agree with the stance that I took [on California's Proposition 8]…From day one they wanted me out, and they got what they wanted."

Prejean sparked controversy at the Miss USA competition, where she was first-runner up, when she said marriage should be reserved for men and women in answer to a question posed by judge Perez Hilton, San Jose Mercury News reports.

Pageant officials say Tami Farrell, first runner-up to Prejean, will take over the responsibilities that the former Miss California had failed to commit to.