http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Television/story?id=7381893&page=1

Miss North Carolina may have taken the title of Miss USA. But everyone seems to be talking about first runner-up Miss California, who raised eyebrows with her answer to judge Perez Hilton's question and sparked the ire of the self-proclaimed gossip queen.

Hilton asked Miss California's Carrie Prejean her thoughts on legalizing gay marriage during the Miss USA 2009 pageant, which aired live Sunday night on NBC.

"Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage," he said. "Do you think every state should follow suit, why or why not."

At first, Prejean seemed to trip over her words before giving an answer that drew a mixed reaction from the audience and a look of thinly veiled disgust from Hilton.

"I think it's great Americans are able to choose one or the other," she said. "We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what 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 there, but that's how I was raised and that's how I think it should be, between a man and a woman."

Apparently, though, some were offended by Prejean's answer. On television, there could be heard the sound of boos, drowned out somewhat by applause. Hilton has been blogging about what he called the "worst answer in pageant history" since the show ended.

In a video blog posted Sunday night, he called Prejean "a dumb b----." He later apologized in the blog, offering to take Prejean out for coffee and a "talk."

"I was floored," Hilton told ABCNews.com Monday. "I haven't said this before, but to her credit, I applaud her for her honesty. However, she is not a politician, she's a hopeful Miss USA. Miss USA should represent everyone. Her answer alienated millions of gay and lesbian Americans, their families and their supporters."

He also believes her answer cost her the contest because, to his knowledge, no Miss USA contestant has ever been booed during the question-and-answer portion of the show.

"She lost it because of that question. She was definitely the front-runner before that," Hilton said, adding that he's "very happy with whom the judges chose," Miss North Carolina's Kristen Dalton.

Prejean told "Access Hollywood" on Monday that she felt like the winner, even though she came in second place, after receiving more than 1,000 messages on Facebook and 2,000 friend requests.

And even though, she believes her answer "did cost me my crown," she told the entertainment show, "I wouldn't have had it any other way. I said what I feel. I stated an opinion that was true to myself and that's all I can do. It is a very touchy subject and he [Perez] is a homosexual and I see where he was coming from and I see the audience would've wanted me to be more politically correct. But I was raised in a way that you can never compromise your beliefs and your opinions for anything."

Hilton said Prejean could have chosen an answer that he believed would have been less political. When he asked Miley Cyrus the same question on Twitter after the show, he was surprised by her response: "I believe that EVERYONE deserves to be happy. That's all I'm saying."

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This whole thing is pissing me off. Especially the last part. Why not give a political response to a political question? The whole thing is so fucking stupid. Check the video on the ABC page. Perez is a little b*tch. Ms. California only gave her opinion, she gave an honest answer, deal with it. It should not have costed her the competition. Not to mention Ms. north carolinas question was about the banking bailout. It's like asking "why do you think your religion is better than the other ones"? It's too much of a personal question.

yes, she did.

Pics?

Anyways, that's pretty lame that she was booed off and called such names by people who are insecure and/or overly sensitive freaks.

It's her opinion and she's entitled to it, everyone else can **** off.

She was cheered when she made those statements.

Though it was a ridiculous yes/no question to ask when you are only looking for one answer.

True, entitled 100%. She's still a bigot for having that opinion though and certainly didn't deserve to win.

Wait... did I read her conversation wrong or did she say....

"I think people should be able to do both, but I think gay marriage is wrong."

I mean is that really that bad of a statement?

no, she lost because she called when a man and woman marry "opposite marriage".

SHE's EVIL!!!!!!!!!!! Gay marriage is teh sex!! She must be a racist, redneck, racist, no doubt, and she offends my liberal sensibilities.

i think that question was too sensitive to ask at a beauty pageant, people are split over gay marriage, she was bound to piss people off, no matter what her answer was, so i think the guy who asked her the question screwed up.

 Thats actually a very good statement. She doesn't let her personal opinion get in the way of what is right.