Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse has lost her title just weeks after winning it, with organizers saying the decision followed a breach of pageant rules.
The 27-year-old was crowned on June 28 and had been set to represent North Carolina at Miss USA in Florida later this month. Boltinhouse made history as the first married woman and the first woman of Honduran descent to earn the Miss North Carolina USA title.
That changed on August 5, when pageant organizers confirmed she had been removed from the role after what they described as a conduct-related issue. The removal came after past social media posts purported to be from Boltinhouse resurfaced and sparked public criticism.
A Blaize Productions, which oversees the pageants in the state, said the move came after a review of information that had recently come to light. Miss USA Chairman Thom Brodeur clarified that the conduct in question occurred “over an extended period of time,” rather than being isolated to a single incident.
As a result, first runner-up Myla Hadley will now assume the title and go on to compete at the national event.
“We ask our pageant family, supporters, and the public to extend kindness and respect to both Brittany and Myla during this transition. Moments like these are never easy for anyone involved, and we remain committed to treating everyone with dignity while continuing our mission of empowering the next generation of women leaders.”
No specific details about the alleged violation were shared by pageant officials, but Miss USA chairman Thom Brodeur said the organization takes these matters seriously.
“The Miss USA Organization does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity.”
He also addressed what holding a title is meant to represent within the organization.
“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.
“When that standard is broken, the title cannot continue as though nothing happened.”
Brodeur said the system has zero tolerance for incidents of this kind, but he also called on people not to target or abuse Boltinhouse.
“There is a young woman at the center of this. She has been named, examined, and judged in public in a way that most of us would not survive, and she is still a human being with a family, a future, and a life ahead of her that is longer than this part of her journey,” he wrote.
Brodeur noted that Boltinhouse had issued a statement that included “ownership, accountability and apology.” He added, “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.”
Hadley, who was crowned Miss Charlotte before competing in the state pageant, has since responded online, thanking supporters after being elevated to the crown.
“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.
“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.”
This year’s Miss USA pageant marks the competition’s 75th anniversary and is scheduled to take place at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami on August 27. The pageant will air live on The CW from 8 to 10 p.m. ET and will feature approximately 40 former Miss USA titleholders attending the celebration.