A topless photo of Miss California could cost the controversial beauty queen her title with Miss USA organisers saying the blonde stunner "breached her contract".
PHOTOS: Beauty pageant scandals
Carrie Prejean said the photographs — taken when she was just 17 and aspiring to be a Victoria's Secret model — were published online to "silence her" after she opposed gay marriage at a recent Miss USA competition, CNN reports.
"My commitment to stand by my beliefs has since resulted in attacks on me and my integrity as a woman," the 21-year-old said in a news statement. (Watch more: Gay marriage row)
The photographs were published on a website called "The Dirty". One image shows a lingerie-clad Prejean facing away from the camera and covering her exposed breast with her arm.
The website says the photographs are exclusive and claims there are "more to come".
Pageant officials, lawyers and representatives of tycoon Donald Trump, who owns the Miss USA competition, are currently in "closed door meetings" to discuss whether to strip Prejean of her Miss California crown.
"When you compete for Miss California, you're supposed to disclose whether you posed for nude or semi-nude photos because it's grounds for disqualification," Miss California USA spokesman Roger Neal said.
Prejean, who was runner-up in the Miss USA contest, defended the photographs.
"[The photos] have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid website that openly mocks me for my Christian faith," she said.
"I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be.
"But these attacks on me and others who speak in defence of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive.
"While we may not agree on every issue, we should show respect for others' opinions and not try to silence them through vicious and mean-spirited attacks."
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