Brittany Boltinhouse has been stripped of her Miss North Carolina USA 2026 title just weeks after winning the crown, following the resurfacing of past social media activity that the Miss USA Organization said violated its standards.
The organization announced the decision on Wednesday, saying it was made in coordination with Boltinhouse and state pageant directors after reviewing conduct that occurred over an extended period. Miss USA President and CEO Thom Brodeur noted that Boltinhouse is expected to release a separate public statement addressing the matter.
Brodeur said the organization maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward racism, homophobia, transphobia, and language that demeans others.
“A title here isn’t a trinket. It is a position of trust, extended by an organization and accepted by a woman who agrees to carry a standard in public,” Brodeur said in a statement on Instagram. He also emphasized that accountability does not preclude the possibility of personal growth, noting that change is demonstrated through actions rather than apologies alone.
A Blaize Productions also released a statement: “After careful consideration, multiple conversations, and in consultation with the Miss USA organization, A Blaize Productions has made a difficult decision to conclude Brittany Boltinhouse’s reign as Miss North Carolina USA 2026.”
The dethroning comes little more than a month after Boltinhouse was crowned Miss North Carolina USA and was preparing to represent the state at the Miss USA competition later this month.
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First runner-up Myla Hadley has now been elevated to Miss North Carolina USA 2026 and will assume the role immediately. The Miss USA Organization said it has full confidence in Hadley as she prepares to compete on the national stage.
The Washington Examiner reached out to A Blaize Productions and Brittany Boltinhouse for comment.