Bad behaviour? Miss USA could get the boot
REIGNING Miss USA Tara Conner may be in danger of losing her tiara.
Real estate mogul Donald Trump and NBC, co-owners of the Miss Universe Organisation and the Miss USA pageant, are threatening to strip her of her title, New York Daily News reported.
The reason? As holder of the coveted title, Miss Conner's behaviour may not be up to scratch.
Miss USA is considered a role model and is expected to act accordingly.
But the 20-year-old blonde from Russel County, Kentucky, who lives in New York, has allegedly been involved in underaged drinking (the legal age for alcohol consumption is 21in the US).
She was also rumoured to be partying, staying out late with a string of boyfriends and then neglecting some of the events that come with her title, according to her friends.
Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart said that Miss Conner's behaviour will be evaluated and that Mr Trump will make an announcement next week.
AP reported Mr Trump saying that if Miss Conner gets the boot, first runner-up, Miss California, Tamiko Nash, would take over as Miss USA.
'I can't really talk about it now,' Mr Trump said in an interview. 'But we have to make a decision. There is no question about that.'
Miss Conner's family is standing by her.
'That's not Tara,' Ms Carol Anderson, her aunt said. 'I don't think she would jeopardise such an honour. To me it's all hearsay.'
Her father, Mr John Blair said he was sure she'd keep her crown.
She is still scheduled to appear at a charity event in Miami today and to celebrate her 21st birthday on Tuesday at a Caesar's Palace nightclub in Las Vegas.
If Miss Conner, who won the title on 21 Apr, is dethroned, it will not be the first time Mr Trump has dealt with such a scenario.
In 2002, Russia's Oxana Fedorova won the Miss Universe pageant but was stripped of her title after violating her contract.
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