Organizers cited resurfaced posts and a pattern of conduct spanning several years.

Miss North Carolina USA organizers stripped Brittany Boltinhouse of her title on Aug. 5, less than six weeks after she won it, following what the pageant’s parent organization described as a thorough review of recently surfaced information about her past conduct. First runner-up Myla Hadley has been named the new titleholder and will represent North Carolina at the 75th Miss USA pageant in Miami on Aug. 27.

Why was Brittany Boltinhouse stripped of her title

Neither A Blaize Productions, which holds the state license for the pageant, nor Miss USA CEO Thom Brodeur detailed the specific posts or conduct that triggered the removal. Brodeur said what was brought to his attention was not a single incident but conduct that reflected a pattern over an extended period of time, and said that assessment is why the outcome was reached. A Blaize Productions said the decision followed careful consideration, multiple conversations and consultation with the Miss USA organization, and described the choice as one that was not made lightly.

What do the resurfaced posts reportedly show

According to the North Carolina outlet NCBeat, old social media posts attributed to Boltinhouse under a different username showed her repeatedly using a racial slur between 2017 and 2019. Neither pageant organization has confirmed the specific content of the posts, and Fox News Digital reported it had reached out to Boltinhouse for comment.

What has Miss USA said about the decision

Brodeur was direct in condemning the underlying conduct, saying the Miss USA brand does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia or language that strips any person of their dignity, regardless of who that person is. He said that standard is not something written just for a press release but represents the baseline expectation for anyone representing the brand. At the same time, Brodeur struck a notably measured tone toward Boltinhouse personally, saying she remains a human being with a family and a future, and that he does not believe accountability requires cruelty or that enforcing a standard should come with satisfaction at someone’s downfall.

Has Boltinhouse responded

Brodeur said Boltinhouse plans to address the situation in her own words in a forthcoming statement. He said he has already reviewed that statement and described it as showing ownership, accountability and apology, adding that while an apology does not undo harm or change the outcome, it represents the beginning of the kind of change that can eventually repair harm. As of this report, Boltinhouse had not issued a public statement of her own, and multiple outlets said they had reached out to her for comment.

Who is Myla Hadley, the new titleholder

Hadley, the first runner-up in the North Carolina competition, will now compete at Miss USA with what organizers called their full confidence and support. She acknowledged the abrupt transition in a social media post, saying she understands the seriousness and prestige the title carries and that she and her team are ready to represent North Carolina, despite what she described as roughly a two-week turnaround. She noted she has been preparing for the possibility of representing the state at Miss USA since she first began competing with the organization.

What is Boltinhouse’s background

Boltinhouse, 27, previously held the Miss Wilmington USA title before winning Miss North Carolina USA on June 28. She is an entrepreneur who owns two flooring and turf companies. According to A Blaize Productions, she was both the first married woman and the first woman of Honduran descent to win the North Carolina title, and she has spoken publicly about her Honduran and Mexican heritage as part of her platform around entrepreneurship.

What happens next

Hadley is set to compete at the Miss USA pageant on Aug. 27 in Miami. Neither pageant organization has indicated whether further details about the original posts or the review process will be released. Brodeur, who took over the Miss USA brand in September 2025 following a prior leadership controversy involving allegations of mistreatment within the organization, said he stands behind the decision without qualification.