Carrie Prejean to surrender Miss California title

Washington (ANI): Miss California Carrie Prejean is being encouraged to surrender her title, in the wake of recent controversy surrounding her anti-gay marriage stance and nude photos. Keith Lewis, the director of the Miss California pageant, has said that the 21-year-old beauty queen is giving preference to her views than what her title represents.

"We are just trying to move forward in what is the best way for the organization, the women, the titleholder and the state. Carrie is still Miss California USA, but right now she is not acting in the capacity of Miss California USA. She is acting as Carrie Prejean and working on things that are important to Carrie Prejean," Fox News quoted Lewis as saying.

In fact, many pageant insiders and former title-holders have said that if Prejean wishes to continue her crusade in advocating her traditional views of marriage, she should first resign from her role as Miss California.

"I think it's awesome that she's found something that she's very passionate about and found this voice, but if she wants to pursue that and emphasize those opinions she should do it as Carrie not as Miss California so therefore I do think she should step down," said Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey.

She added: "But I actually think it's sad you turn on the TV and everyone is so concerned about a beauty queen and whether or not she will lose her title. But I understand it's important because she now is Miss California USA and she has to represent that title and not necessarily herself."

Meanwhile, Prejean did not turn up for the shooting of a PSA, titled 'I Believe ... The Beauty of California', aimed at promoting the diversity of California.