Miss California defends nude pics

Reuters

SPEAKING OUT: Miss California Carrie Prejean has defended a series of raunchy photos of herself that have hit the internet.

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Miss California Carrie Prejean, who sparked a gay rights outcry following an outburst at the Miss USA pageant, has defended a series of raunchy snaps that have hit the internet.

A photo of Prejean topless and in lacy pink underwear surfaced on websites such as www.perezhilton.com and spread quickly. Five other photos are rumoured to be hitting the internet soon.

Miss California officials are investigating whether the snaps violate her contract as a beauty pageant winner.

Prejean, 21, said the photos were taken when she was a teenager and their release was designed to "mock" her religion.

"I am a Christian, and I am a model. Models pose for pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos," she said in a statement.

"Recently, photos taken of me as a teenager have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid website that openly mocks me for my Christian faith. I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be.

"But these attacks on me and others who speak in defense of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive.

Prejean sparked an outcry last month when she said marriage was for "a man and a woman" during the Miss USA pageant.

In her statement, she said she would continue to "support and defend marriage as the honorable institution it is".

"If this whole experience has taught me anything, it is our precious right to speak freely, and how we as Americans can never allow anyone or any group to intimidate or threaten us to keep silent."

Prejean was runner-up in the Miss USA pageant.

* Check out the photos here.

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