Perez Hilton: 'The way Miss California answered her question lost her the crown'

Perez Hilton: 'The way Miss California answered her question lost her the crown'

Although Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton has been crowned Miss USA 2009 on Sunday yet on Monday, it was Miss California Carrie Prejean's answer to a question about same-sex marriage from pageant judge Perez Hilton that became the night's biggest story.

To be specific, during the show, Perez asked Carrie, "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage.Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?"

At this Carrie added, "Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. Um, we live in a land that you can choose same sex marriage or opposite marriage and, you know what, in my country and in, in my family, I think that I
believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman," "No offense to anybody out there. But that's how I was raised and that's how I think that it should be between a man and a woman."

According to Perez Hilton this answer of Carrie to the hot button question cost her crown.

Perez told a popular news magazine  after the pageant, "The way miss California answered her question lost her the crown, without a doubt!" "Never before that I'm aware of has a contestant been booed at Miss USA."

Keith Lewis, Co-Executive Director of the Miss California USA and Miss California Teen USA added  in a statement to the same news magazine that he respects Carrie's opinion, even if it differs with his.

Keith continued,"I am proud of Carrie Prejean's beauty and placement at the 2009 Miss USA pageant. I support Carrie's right to express her personal beliefs even if they do not coincide with my own," "I believe the subject of gay marriage deserves a great deal more conversation in order to heal the divide it has created."

A popular website  initially reported that Keith was "personally saddened and hurt" by Carrie's comments. Keith said that he did not release a statement to the celebrity blogger.

A representative for Shanna Moakler , who inherited the Miss USA title in the year 1995 when Miss USA Chelsi Smith was crowned Miss Universe, told Perez that she "supports Keith's views 100%."

On Monday morning, Miss California talked to Billy Bush during "The Billy Bush Show" . During Billy's interview Carrie revealed that a member of her family is a gay rights activist.