Miss USA runner-up could file suit over discrimination

Miss USA runner-up Carrie Prejean, who answered she was against the legalisation of gay marriage in California, may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the pageant for discrimination, says a legal analyst.

Miss California, during the recent Miss USA telecast, had picked gay judge Perez Hilton’s question whether every state should make same-sex marriages legal.

Prejean, who lost out to Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton, spoke against the possibility and it was suggested that it was her negative answer that may have stabbed her chances of winning.

She recently said that she believed “God was testing her character and faith” with the question and that she was glad she stood her ground.

And now, legal analyst Mercedes Colwin has said that Prejean may have grounds to turn to court.

Kristen Dalton crowned Miss USA 2009

Miss North Carolina USA - Kristen Dalton was crowned Miss USA 2009 on Sunday beating out 50 other beauty queens. She will go to the Bahamas in August to compete in the Miss Universe pageant.

The 22-year-old beauty from Wilmington edged out first runner-up Miss California Carrie Prejean, of San Diego, and second runner-up Miss Arizona- Alicia Monique Blanco, of Phoenix.

Miss Wyoming USA- Cynthia Pate, of Casper, Wyo., was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants. Jessi Pierson, of Milton, W.Va., was voted Miss Photogenic through an online contest.

Contestants were judged by their performance in swimsuit and evening gown modeling contests and their responses to a question asked onstage.

The top 15 contestants worked the stage in white string bikinis designed by pop star Jessica Simpson's swimwear line. The beauties showed off their choice of glittering evening gowns to the tune of Rocker Kevin Rudolf who performed his song "Let it Rock," followed by The Veronicas.

The contest was hosted by "Access Hollywood" co-anchor Billy Bush and Nadine Velazquez of the NBC sitcom "My Name is Earl." This year's judges included "Saturday Night Live" cast member Kenan Thompson, "Dancing with the Stars" winner Kelly Monaco and gossip blogger Perez Hilton.

Jessica Simpson Collection for Miss USA contestants

This year Miss USA contestants will be wearing Jessica Simpson’s itty-bitty bikinis. The singer-actress-designer’s Jessica Simpson Collection has landed the proud opportunity to be the annual beauty pageant’s swimwear sponsor.

White-n-gold string bikinis worth 104 dollars were especially created for the contest, as well as the 88-dollar bright green string bikinis modeled by the crown-chasers during a pre-pageant photo shoot in Las Vegas.

Simpson’s swimwear collection debuted less than two years ago.