Brittany Boltinhouse, 27, has lost her Miss North Carolina USA title after old social media posts containing racist language resurfaced online. Contest organisers announced the decision on Wednesday following a review of the material, according to reports by The Guardian.
Boltinhouse, who was crowned in June, had been preparing to represent North Carolina at the 75th edition of the Miss USA pageant in Miami at the end of August. Following her removal, first runner-up Myla Hadley will assume the title of Miss North Carolina USA 2026.
In a statement, contest organiser A Blaize Productions said the decision was made after a detailed analysis of the information that recently came to light, alongside multiple discussions and consultations with the national Miss USA organisation. Representatives stressed that the step was not taken lightly and aimed to preserve the integrity of the title and the values upheld by the competition, according to The Guardian.
While the organisation did not officially outline the specific posts that led to the removal, it stated that it believed people were capable of evolving and that compassion and accountability could coexist. Nevertheless, organisers reiterated that winners must reflect the standards and principles expected by the contest.
Social media posts and national response
According to local news outlet NCBeat, cited by The Guardian, the social media activity in question occurred between 2017 and 2019. During that timeframe, Boltinhouse operated under the username Sosa the Stallion and reportedly made repeated use of an offensive racial slur directed at Black people.
Thom Brodeur, the president and chief executive officer of Miss USA, said the organisation did not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia or any language that deprived people of their dignity. He noted that Boltinhouse had apologized for the past posts, but said the apology did not undo the damage caused and would not change the outcome.
Background and upcoming competition
Miss USA is an annual national beauty pageant in the United States that brings together winners from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Local state franchises operate under license to select state representatives who showcase leadership, community involvement and personal achievement on the national stage during the broadcast finals.
With Boltinhouse officially stripped of the title, Myla Hadley will step into the role of Miss North Carolina USA 2026 and prepare to compete at the 75th annual Miss USA pageant, which is scheduled to take place in Miami at the end of August.
