Miss North Carolina USA stripped of title after alleged racist posts resurface

First runner-up, Myla Hadley, will represent the state at the Miss USA pageant after Brittany Boltinhouse’s removal

A pageant queen recently crowned Miss North Carolina USA has been stripped of her title after a string of alleged racist posts resurfaced.

Brittany Boltinhouse, 27, was formally dethroned on Wednesday by pageant organizers A Blaize Productions after what it said was “a thorough review of recently surfaced information”.

The organization did not disclose what Boltinhouse had allegedly posted but said the decision had been taken after “careful consideration, multiple conversations, and in consultation with the Miss USA Organization”.

The organization said it believes “people are capable of growth” and that “grace and accountability can coexist” but the organization must also uphold the standards and values expected of titleholders.

Boltinhouse won the title in June and has been preparing to represent North Carolina at the 75th annual Miss USA pageant in Miami later this month.

Organizers said in a statement that the decision to remove Boltinghouse “was not made lightly”. The first runner-up, Myla Hadley, has been named Miss North Carolina USA 2026.

“It followed a thorough review of recently surfaced information and was based on the totality of the circumstances and our responsibility to preserve the integrity of the Miss North Carolina USA title and the values of our organization.”

Thom Brodeur, president and CEO of Miss USA, said that the brand “does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia, nor language that strips any person of their dignity – whoever they are”.

Brodeur said Boltinhouse had apologized but that would “not undo the harm, and it does not change the outcome”.

The North Carolina news outlet NCBeat reported that Boltinhouse’s resurfaced social media posts showed her freely using the N-word under the username Sosa the Stallion between 2017 and 2019.

After earning the title in June, Boltinhouse posted on Instagram : “There are moments in life that forever change who you are. This is one of mine.”

“This crown is bigger than me,” she added. “It’s for the people who have been underestimated. For those who have been told they’re too old, too young, too different, or not enough. For the dreamers who refuse to let someone else’s opinion become their reality.”