SAN DIEGO - He asked and she answered. During Sunday night's Miss USA Competition, 21-year old Carrie Prejean and Miss California, was asked her opinion on same sex marriage.
At first Prejean struggled but ended her answer with her true feelings.
"You know what? In my country and in my family, I think -- I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anyone out there," said Prejean.
The Vista High School Graduate and San Diego Christian College student lost out to Miss North Carolina, Kristen Dalton, at the Ceremony in Vegas.
Prejean was asked the controversial question by judge Perez Hilton.
On Monday San Diegans quickly became very divided on Prejean's answer.
"Well, I was a little shocked. Anytime the national stage is used to promote discrimination is horrible," said Fernando Lopez, a board member of Marriage Equality USA.
"I think it comes down to human rights. I don't think she answered the question very well, but they asked her the question and she has the right to her opinion," explains Doug Fadley of Hillcrest.
At San Diego Christian College in El Cajon, Prejean's classmates commended her on her bravery for sticking to her beliefs and not backing down in front of millions of viewers.
"She took her beliefs before winning and I'm proud that she did that. She stood up for her school, for Christians and her beliefs," says Billy Benedetto, one of Prejean's close friends.
More importantly, her friends are looking forward to Prejean returning home and to school where she is studying to become a Special Education teacher.
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SAN DIEGO - A San Diegan just missed becoming Miss USA Sunday night in Las Vegas.
Vista High School graduate Carrie Prejean attends San Diego Christian College. The 21-year old is first runner-up to the new Miss America, 22-year old Kristen Dalton of North Carolina.
Prejean, the reigning Miss California, was in the middle of the pageant's only controversial moment.
Judge Perez Hilton, an openly gay gossip blogger, asked whether Prejean believed in gay marriage. The tall blonde stumbled some before giving an answer that appeared to please the pageant audience.
"We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage," Prejean said. "And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."
Some in the audience cheered, others booed. The answer sparked a shouting match in the lobby after the show.
"It's ugly," said Scott Ihrig, a gay man, who attended the pageant with his partner. "I think it's ridiculous that she got first runner-up. That is not the value of 95 percent of the people in this audience. Look around this audience and tell me how many gay men there are."
Charmaine Koonce, the mother of Miss New Mexico USA Bianca Matamoros-Koonce, argued back.
"In the Bible it says marriage is between Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve!"
