Miss North Carolina USA title transferred to runner-up after winner removed
Brittany Boltinhouse was stripped of the Miss North Carolina USA crown after a review, and first runner-up Myla Hadley will represent the state at the Miss USA competition.
Organizers of the Miss North Carolina USA pageant announced on Aug. 5 that Brittany Boltinhouse has been removed from the title she won on June 28. A Blaize Productions, which holds the state license, said the decision followed a thorough review of newly surfaced information and was not taken lightly. Thom Brodeur, chief executive of Miss USA, confirmed the removal, noting that the conduct in question spanned an extended period and that he stands behind the outcome.
The specific reasons for Boltinhouse's removal were not disclosed. Brodeur added that the Miss USA organization does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia or language that undermines a person's dignity, and said the policy reflects the brand's core values. He indicated that Boltinhouse would issue her own statement and expressed respect for her acknowledgment of responsibility.
Myla Hadley, the first runner-up, will assume the Miss North Carolina USA title and will compete in the Miss USA pageant later this month. Hadley thanked supporters on social media and affirmed her readiness to fulfill the role.
Bolitnhouse, 27, previously held the Miss Wilmington USA title and is an entrepreneur who runs two flooring and turf businesses. Her biography noted that she is the first married woman and the first contestant of Honduran descent to win the state crown.