Mothers Against Drunk Driving said Wednesday that allegations of illegal under-age drinking led it to sever ties with 18-year-old Katie Blair, the reigning Miss Teen USA.
December 21, 2006 (Press Release) --
MADD said it was ''disappointed'' by news reports of hard partying by Blair and Miss USA Tara Conner, who on Tuesday tearfully admitted drinking at New York nightclubs as a minor. Conner turned 21 on Monday.
''In the past, MADD has teamed with Miss Teen USA to raise awareness about the serious and often deadly consequences of under-age drinking. However, we do not feel, at this time, that Ms. Blair can be an effective spokesperson on under-age drinking and will not ask her to represent MADD in future initiatives,'' Heidi Castle, a spokeswoman for MADD, said in a statement.
A message left for a representative of Blair, of Billings, Mont., wasn't returned.
Donald Trump -- owner of the Miss Universe Organization -- which includes Miss Teen USA and Miss USA -- said Tuesday at a news conference in New York that he would allow Conner to keep her crown if she settles down and enters alcohol rehab.
Miss Universe Organization spokeswoman Lark-Marie Anton said Blair's crown also was safe.
Anton said the company respected ''MADD's decision as much as we respect their work. We look forward to working with them in the future.''
In a story Wednesday in the Billings (Mont.) Gazette, Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, said ''a lot of the stories'' of Blair's activities were unfounded.
''I'm sorry that Katie got dragged into this,'' Shugart said. ''People just wanted to tell a story, and a lot of it is just to see the name of a particular club in the New York papers, whether it's true or not.''
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
''In the past, MADD has teamed with Miss Teen USA to raise awareness about the serious and often deadly consequences of under-age drinking. However, we do not feel, at this time, that Ms. Blair can be an effective spokesperson on under-age drinking and will not ask her to represent MADD in future initiatives,'' Heidi Castle, a spokeswoman for MADD, said in a statement.
A message left for a representative of Blair, of Billings, Mont., wasn't returned.
Donald Trump -- owner of the Miss Universe Organization -- which includes Miss Teen USA and Miss USA -- said Tuesday at a news conference in New York that he would allow Conner to keep her crown if she settles down and enters alcohol rehab.
Miss Universe Organization spokeswoman Lark-Marie Anton said Blair's crown also was safe.
Anton said the company respected ''MADD's decision as much as we respect their work. We look forward to working with them in the future.''
In a story Wednesday in the Billings (Mont.) Gazette, Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, said ''a lot of the stories'' of Blair's activities were unfounded.
''I'm sorry that Katie got dragged into this,'' Shugart said. ''People just wanted to tell a story, and a lot of it is just to see the name of a particular club in the New York papers, whether it's true or not.''
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
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