Miss USA runner-up milking it? No contest
Posted by Michael Stetz - SignOnSanDiego.com on May 3, 2009, 04:28
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Our Miss California is at Skyline Church in Rancho San Diego today, sharing “her deep convictions” and updates on “her burgeoning career,” according to the news release. She's also in a new national commercial and the subject of every known blog, even ones on antiquing.
The Miss USA pageant was TWO WEEKS ago, but the Vista High School graduate is milking her newfound fame as a supporter of traditional marriage.
I find it hard to take her seriously. For one thing, Prejean is a beauty queen. And let's be frank: Beauty queens are experts in style, self-promotion and walking in high heels.
This particular beauty queen was thrown into the national spotlight for advocating marriage between a man and a woman – no gays or lesbians allowed – on the Miss USA stage.
She finished second in the pageant but first in the hearts of those who support – um, her words – “opposite marriage.”
Since then, the 21-year-old has said that protecting traditional marriage is very dear to her heart and she's proud to champion it.
I don't doubt her conviction, but I do doubt just how involved she was in the gay marriage issue before she stumbled into it by way of a fishbowl full of questions.
Because of that fishbowl, where the question was pulled randomly during the pageant, Prejean is now getting her 15 minutes of fame, a possible book deal and who knows what else.
Before the pageant, I could find no hint that she was publicly involved in the marriage debate. Her stated causes seemed like standard beauty queen stuff: She wanted to help foster kids and she volunteered for Special Olympics.
If Prejean were really committed to defending traditional marriage, wouldn't we have seen her take a stand, say, during the Proposition 8 battle in her own state last year?
Believe me, I would have remembered seeing her when I helped cover that slug-fest of a campaign as a reporter. Who wouldn't? Have you seen her pictures?
Wait, let me check the pictures again. Nope. I don't believe I've had the pleasure.
Jim Garlow, the pastor of Skyline Church, was a major force in getting the proposition banning same-sex marriages narrowly approved. Him, I remember. Miles McPherson, pastor of the Rock Church in Point Loma, was another big player in the Proposition 8 fight. I remember him, too. But Prejean? Nope.
She sure is making up for lost time, though. She spoke at McPherson's church a week ago. She sounded well-prepared. One quote: “I learned that God has a bigger crown than any man can give you.”
She didn't sound as prepared during an appearance on Fox News' “On The Record” with Greta Van Susteren on Thursday. Prejean was asked what she thought of civil unions.
Prejean: “My thought on civil unions? You know what, Greta? I don't have the answers to everything. I'm not running for political office. I don't have the answers to everything, you know, in the world out there.”
I was hoping to get Prejean's take on all of this, particularly if she helped with Proposition 8 in any way leading up to the November vote. At the time, she was Miss La Jolla and, I imagine, gearing up for the Miss California contest. Or helping those foster kids.
But she's too busy to talk now.
When this controversy hit, I fully supported Prejean. And it's not just because I'm a sucker for a pretty face. She seemed honest and forthright when answering that loaded question from gay blogger Perez Hilton.
I disagreed with her, but we all have our opinions on the matter.
The San Diego Christian College student got hammered pretty good by those who support same-sex marriage, and I thought it was unfair and kind of cruel. But she also got tons of support for her stand.
I just wish she would have left it at that. I wish she would have gone back to school and pursued her degree in education, thrilled that she didn't compromise her beliefs for a silly crown. (The beauty queen kind, not the godly kind.)
Instead, Prejean is leaving a virtual vapor trail as she hits the talk show circuit, honing an image as the Christian Right's next hot thing.
She's even appearing in a commercial for the National Organization for Marriage, founded two years ago to fight same-sex marriage initiatives. Her involvement is angering some, including Miss California organizers who say she's crossing the boundaries of her role.
In a strange side note, Miss California Pageant co-director Keith Lewis said Prejean had breast implants before the Miss USA pageant. The organization helped pay for them.
Big deal, you say?
Well, I can't help but wonder what else is fake
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