Miss USA 2009

Results

Placements

Delegates

The Miss USA 2009 delegates were:

Controversy

Main article: Miss USA 2009 same-sex marriage controversy

During the 2009 Miss USA pageant, Miss California Carrie Prejean, was asked by openly gay pageant judge, Perez Hilton, whether she believed every state should legalize same-sex marriage. She responded that she did not. After the pageant Hilton made negative comments about the contestant and told ABC News: "She lost it because of that question. She was definitely the front-runner before that," leading some to believe that the answer directly had caused her to lose the competition. Prejean stated that Miss California USA officials had pressured her to apologize for her statement and "not talk" about her Christian faith.

Several politicians and commentators assailed Hilton and defended Prejean for honestly stating her personal beliefs.

Following the pageant, Prejean hired a Christian public relations firm, and appeared in a television advertisement by the National Organization for Marriage. However, on June 10, 2009, Prejean again stated that her question caused her to lose her title when she learned she was fired by Donald Trump. Miss California USA officials state that her answer had nothing to do with her termination, citing continued breach of her contract instead.

New crown

In keeping with co-owner NBC Universal's "Green is Universal" environmental initiative, the Miss Universe Organization announced that Diamond Nexus Labs would become the official jewelry sponsor for the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants. DNL 's man-made gemstones are "all synthesized in clean labs using environmentally friendly processes". Diamond Nexus Labs will create a custom-designed crown for Miss USA 2009, as well as for the Miss Universe and Miss Teen USA pageants later this year.

Notes

References

References

1. (2009-03-27). "'ACCESS HOLLYWOOD' CO-HOST BILLY BUSH AND 'MY NAME IS EARL' STAR NADINE VELAZQUEZ TO HOST THE 2009 MISS USA PAGEANT LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS ON APRIL 19TH". Miss Universe Organization.
2. Associated Press. (2009-03-09). ["Miss USA pageant plans more than 2 weeks in Vegas"](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/09/entertainment/e114212D33.DTL}} {{Dead link). San Francisco Chronicle.
3. (20 April 2009). "Miss USA 2009".
4. Ussery, Peggy. (2009-02-09). "Miss Alabama USA learned confidence in pageants". Dothan Eagle.
5. "Community". Alaska Daily News.
6. Sparks, Colleen. (2008-12-09). "Desert Vista produces 2 Miss Arizona winners". The Republic.
7. Heater, Jay. (November 2, 2008). "Southmont grad crowned Miss Indiana USA".
8. (August 4, 2004). "Miss Teen USA 2004".
9. Leach, Robin. (2009-03-04). "Photo Gallery: Miss Nevada USA is ready to play host and compete". Las Vegas Weekly.
10. Derschowitz, Jessica. (2010-09-02). ""The Amazing Race" Cast Announced". CBS News.
11. (2009-04-20). "Gay marriage row at Miss USA show". BBC News.
12. (2009-04-20). "Carrie Prejean Says Answer to Gay Marriage Question Cost Her Miss USA Crown". Fox News.
13. (2009-04-27). "Carrie Prejean says she was asked to apologize for gay marriage comments, but refused". Daily News.
14. [https://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2009/4/27/miss-california-carrie-prejean-signs-with-top-christian-publicity-firm.html U.S. News & World Report - "Miss California, Carrie Prejean, Signs With Top Christian Publicity Firm"] {{webarchive. link. (2009-05-02)
15. [http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Newsom-Defends-Miss-California.html Newsom Defends Miss California]. [[NBC News]]. Published April 23, 2009.
16. "Political Grapevine" segment of [[Special Report with Brit Hume]], [[Fox News]], August 15, 2006 ([http://www.foxnews.com/column_archive/0,2976,21,00.html Miss California Continues to Grab Headlines])
17. [http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/c.omL2KeN0LzH/b.3836955/k.BEC6/Home.htm National Organization for Marriage]
18. Goetzl, David. (2009-03-06). "Miss Universe Sparkles With Diamond Sponsor". Media News Daily.