Miss North Carolina USA stripped of her crown; pageant says ‘standards and values’ not upheld

Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse had her title removed, with the Miss USA pageant saying it “does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia.”

Miss North Carolina USA organizers have stripped the recently crowned winner of her title, saying Wednesday that she had failed to uphold the pageant’s “standards and values.”

Brittany Boltinhouse, 27, will not represent the Tar Heel State at the 75th annual Miss USA 2026 pageant on Aug. 27 in Miami, according to Blaize Productions, organizers of the North Carolina competition.

Instead, first runner-up Myla Hadley will represent North Carolina later this month.

“As an organization entrusted with selecting and preparing women to represent our states on the national stage, we must uphold the standards and values that our titleholders agree to embrace when accepting the honor of wearing the crown,” A Blaize Productions said in a statement.

“After careful consideration, multiple conversations and in consultation with the Miss USA Organization, A Blaize Productions has made the difficult decision to conclude Brittany Boltinhouse’s reign as Miss North Carolina USA 2026,” the statement added.