Former Miss North Carolina USA sues Miss USA pageant for defamation

Brittany Boltinhouse, the former Miss North Carolina USA, has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Miss USA organization and its officials, alleging they publicly portrayed her as a "racist, homophobe, and intolerable bigot" after stripping her of her title, causing significant reputational harm. The lawsuit, filed in Duplin County Superior Court on August 23, 2026, contends that statements made by the organization after her dethronement painted a false and damaging picture of her character, leading to lost professional opportunities and emotional distress.

Boltinhouse was crowned Miss North Carolina USA in June 2026. Her title was removed on August 5, 2026, following the resurfacing of social media posts from 2017 and 2019 in which she used a racial slur. Pageant Chairman and CEO Thom Brodeur announced the decision in a statement, saying the organization "does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity." First runner-up Myla Hadley subsequently assumed the crown.

In her legal complaint, Boltinhouse acknowledges the old social media posts but argues that her conservative Christian beliefs and political views are the true...