Sarah Palin defends Miss California

Reuters

SPEAKING OUT: Sarah Palin says the furore over Miss California USA Carrie Prejean is 'despicable'.

Related Links

Fallout continues over gay stance Miss California defends nude pics Alternate Miss California named Miss California keeps her crown Pageant chief resigns over Prejean

Relevant offers

Celebrities

Whitney Houston found dead Blue Ivy grabs the spotlight Lively spends Valentine's with dad Elton John fears for 'stigmatised' son Police recapture Madonna stalker TV show host's jibes 'helped Rimes' Hollywood couple rely on date nights Reese plans Valentine's Day surprise O'Connor tempted to bare too much Entertainment Quiz 10/2

Former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is defending Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, who created a stir at last month's Miss USA pageant when she said marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

The former vice presidential candidate says in a statement, "The liberal onslaught of malicious attacks against Carrie Prejean for expressing her opinion is despicable".

Questions about her work with gay marriage opponents and nearly nude photos taken of her when she was a teenager had put her title in jeopardy, but pageant owner Donald Trump decided to let Prejean keep her state crown.

Palin says she respects Prejean for staying true to her beliefs and can relate to her "as a liberal target myself."

Palin was a runner-up in the 1984 Miss Alaska contest. 

- AP