Miss North Carolina USA 2026 stripped of title as organization condemns 'racism, homophobia'

Brittany Boltinhouse, Miss North Carolina USA 2026, was stripped of her title, the Miss USAorganization announced on Wednesday. The organization said it does not tolerate "racism, homophobia, transphobia, nor language that strips any person of their dignity."

Boltinhouse was crowned at the Miss USA competition on June 28. In his statement, Thom Brodeur, the chairman and CEO of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, did not specify the alleged conduct, but he said that it did not reflect the standards of the Miss USA organization.

"A title here isn't a trinket. It's a position of trust extended by an organization and accepted by a woman who agrees to carry a standard in public," he added.

The decision was made jointly with Boltinhouse, state directors and the organization, according to Brodeur's statement.

Boltinhouse has not yet publicly responded to losing her title. ABC News has reached out to Boltinhouse directly and to her state directors at A Blaize Productions but has not received a response.

Brodeursaid in his statement on Wednesday that Boltinhouse is expected to make her own statement. Boltinhouse said that he read a statement from Boltinhouse on the matter and in it, "There is ownership, accountability, and apology."

The Miss USA organization said it deliberately issued their statement before Boltinhouse addressed the removal of her title, saying she should have her "own voice."

ABC News reached out the Miss USA organization for further comment and a spokesperson referred ABC News to the statement made by Brodeur on Wednesday.

A Blaize Productions, a production house and pageant organization that manages and oversees preliminary competitions for Miss USA and Miss Teen USA in North Carolina and other states, said in a statement on Wednesday that the decision on strip Boltinhouse of her title "was not made lightly."

"It followed a thorough review of recently surfaced information and was based on the totality of the circumstances and our responsibility to preserve the integrity of the Miss North Carolina USA title and the values of our organization," the company said.

Brodeur said that while Boltinhouse should be held "accountable," but he cautioned against "cruelty" and said that her actions do not give people "permission to strip someone of their humanity, which is, after all, precisely the thing we are holding her accountable for doing to others."

Brodeur said that Boltinhouse was replaced by Miss North Carolina runner-up Myla Hadley.

The 75th annual Miss USA pageant is scheduled on Aug. 27. The winner of Miss USA will qualify to compete at Miss Universe on Nov. 24.

Miss USA and Miss America are different organizations and each hold their own separate competitions.

Miss North Carolina Lauryn Mallard was crowned on June 27 at the Miss America competition and still holds the title.