On Sunday night, two local women became the first out lesbians to compete in the Miss California USA pageant. Neither Mollie Thomas, 19, nor Jenelle Hutcherson, 26, went home with the crown, but they got their message across anyway. more ›

This year the pageant's recruiters have successfully encouraged a radically different sort of contestant to compete: out-and-proud lesbians who seem to care less about winning a beauty contest and more about being a strong role model for the LGBT community. more ›

Once again, a Miss California USA contestant is causing controversy and it's not just her anti-gay views, which are in line with former Miss California Carrie Prejean. Lauren Ashley, 23, has been claiming herself as Miss Beverly Hills, but the city of Beverly Hills says they do not sponsor a beauty pageant or have any association with Miss California USA, according to the LA Times. Furthermore, the city says she lives in Pasadena. more ›

And now for a totally different perspective, chock full of good points, on this silly drama from John Stewart a couple nights ago. Oh, and then there's Keith Olbermann who is calling all of this a WTF?!? moment: more ›

Former Miss USA and New York and more recently California's pageant director Shanna Moakler today resigned citing the recent Miss California controversy. "I cannot with a clear conscious move forward supporting and promoting the Miss Universe Organization when I no longer believe in it, or the contracts I signed committing myself as a youth," she said in a statement. "I want to be a role model for young woman with high hopes of pageantry, but now feel it more important to be a role model for my children. I am sorry and hope I have not let any young supporters down." more ›

Amid her anti gay marriage stance and contract breaches, Miss California Carrie Prejean gets to keep her tiara. That after a big press conference in New York City this morning with Donald Trump, who runs the Miss Universe pageant. "He said that she had given an honest answer to a tough question, and that there’s nothing wrong with the [semi-nude] pictures of her," the New York Times reported. “'We’re very proud of her,” he said, calling her strong, tough, smart and very beautiful." more ›

As expected, the Miss California USA pageant held a press conference today to announce the fate of Carrie Prejean's crown after four-year-old semi-nude photos--a breach of contract--surfaced on the internet. But instead of a simple yes or no, they said that runner-up Tami Farrell would act as the de facto Miss California at appearances because "every time they reach out to [Prejean], they are confronted by an army of her handlers and haven’t been able to talk with her," reported the LA Times. Additionally, Donald Trump, who owns the Miss USA pageant and is the only one who can made the decision, will announce tomorrow. Prejean gained her celebrity status after opining against gay marriage, which probably led to the release of her semi-nude photos. more ›

The Miss California USA pageant plans to reveal this afternoon if they will allow Carrie Prejean to keep her crown after allegations the 21-year-old San Diegan "violated her contract by making public appearances with groups opposed to same-sex marriage," according to cbs2. The blonde beauty also came under fire for remarks made as part of the Miss USA pageant regarding her beliefs about same-sex marriage, which incurred the post-pageant wrath of judge Perez Hilton. Prejean's crown was further tarnished when nude photos of her as a teenager became public. more ›

Miss California Carrie Prejean, 21, has been quite the hot topic lately. She was practically an unknown until she said this about gay marriage: "I think in my country, 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." more ›

Remember back in December when due to "human error" in tallying the votes, the crown that was placed on the head of Koreatown's Christina Silva, aka Miss Los Angeles, was placed on the head of Miss Barstow Raquel Beezley making her the winner in the all-important Miss California pageant? more ›