4 Of The Most Shocking Beauty Pageant Scandals

Beauty pageant winners are expected to be as close to perfect as possible, but that doesn’t always end up being the case. Click through the gallery to see some of the most shocking scandals that centered around famous pageant winners and let us know which YOU think is the craziest!



Vanessa Williams won Miss America in 1983, but she didn’t make it to the end of her reign before controversy erupted. Seven weeks before she was set to hand over the crown, Penthouse magazine published unauthorized nude photos of her, and she relinquished the title. However, Vanessa was invited to judge this year’s Miss America on Sept. 13, so it’s rumored she may get the title back.

Miss USA Tara Conner, seemed like the ultimate America’s Sweetheart when she won the pageant in 2006, but it didn’t take long for reports of partying and drug use were revealed. Unlike Vanessa, though, Tara was able to keep her crown after giving a tearful apology and promising to clean up her act.

Ashley Harder, who won Miss New Jersey in 2007, wasn’t so lucky. She was dethroned when she became pregnant, and according to Miss USA rules, contestants are not allowed to be pregnant or have children.

Carrie Prejean won Miss California in 2009, and even became the runner-up in Miss USA that year. However, she didn’t fulfill her obligations in the role, including making appearances on behalf of the Miss USA organization, and was stripped of the title. She also made headlines during her Miss USA pageant for a controversial response to a question about gay marriage, in which she said she, personally, believes marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Beauty pageant winners are expected to be as close to perfect as possible, but that doesn’t always end up being the case. Click through the gallery to see some of the most shocking scandals that centered around famous pageant winners and let us know which YOU think is the craziest!



Vanessa Williams won Miss America in 1983, but she didn’t make it to the end of her reign before controversy erupted. Seven weeks before she was set to hand over the crown, Penthouse magazine published unauthorized nude photos of her, and she relinquished the title. However, Vanessa was invited to judge this year’s Miss America on Sept. 13, so it’s rumored she may get the title back.

yeah, Vanessa Williams should get her title back, it wasn't her fault

yeah, Vanessa Williams should get her title back, it wasn't her fault

she deserves the title

wow I Love Vanessa so much, she's a good singer and an actress.

so many scandals and controversial incidents in beauty pageants like a stage mom is always around