Miss USA on Her Way Out?

Nothing beats a good beauty pageant scandal. Rumors have been flying this week that the current reigning Miss USA, 20-year-old Tara Conner of Kentucky, would be forced by pageant officials to forfeit her crown due to "innaproppriate behavior." Details on this behavior are hard to come by, but it seems, at the least, Conner has been downing alcohol beverages in a very underage manner in her home of New York City. Alleged infractions include "substance abuse, failing to make Miss USA promotional appearances, chafing at other obligations and nonstop nightclubbing at Big Apple hot spots" and generally behaving like a hot 20-year-old chick. Says one source: "She makes Paris Hilton look like a baby," which, in this blogger's opinion, is a more commendable feat than winning the Miss USA crown in the first place.

Donald Trump, who owns the Miss USA pageant, weighed in on the matter yesterday, stating that "reports that Miss USA is being 'dethroned' are absolutely not true. [Conner is] going through some personal problems and difficulties right now which could affect her ability to reign. We are right now looking into what we can do to work with her and what we will do about her reign going forward."

Today, TMZ reports that pageant reps have arrived at a solution: they're giving the crown to the first runner-up, Tamiko Nash of California. According to TMZ, Nash was contacted by a "high-ranking" pageant official and informed that she will take the crown when Trump makes the official announcement next week.

Trump is, of course, loving every minute of this, since this is the most attention his moribund Miss USA franchise has received since he took the reins in 2003. It's too bad it has to come at Tara Conner's expense.

[photo courtesy of Hollywood Tuna]