MADD cuts ties with Miss Teen USA on reports that she partied with Miss USA

Associated Press

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) said Wednesday it was severing ties with Miss Teen USA Katie Blair because it was "disappointed" by news reports that she had partied with Miss USA Tara Conner.

The day before, Conner had tearfully admitted drinking as a minor at New York nightclubs. She turned 21 on Monday.

"In the past, MADD has teamed with Miss Teen USA to raise awareness about the serious and often deadly consequences of underage drinking," said Heidi Castle, a spokeswoman for MADD, in a statement. "However, we do not feel, at this time, that Ms. Blair can be an effective spokesperson on underage drinking and will not ask her to represent MADD in future initiatives."

A message left for a representative of Blair, an 18-year-old from Billings, Mont., wasn't returned Wednesday.

Donald Trump — owner of the Miss Universe Organization, which includes Miss Teen USA and Miss USA — said Tuesday at a news conference in New York that he would allow Conner to keep her crown if she settled down and entered alcohol rehab.

Miss Universe Organization spokeswoman Lark-Marie Anton said Blair's crown also was safe.

Anton said the company respected "MADD's decision as much as we respect their work. We look forward to working with them in the future."

In a story Wednesday in The Billings (Mont.) Gazette, Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, said "a lot of the stories" of Blair's activities were unfounded.

"I'm sorry that Katie got dragged into this," Shugart said. "People just wanted to tell a story, and a lot of it is just to see the name of a particular club in the New York papers, whether it's true or not."

Pictures of Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner

Miss USA Tara Conner allowed to keep her title, video of her tearful apology

Adam Goldman, Associated Press, 19th Dec 2006

NEW YORK: Miss USA Tara Conner, who had come under criticism amid rumors she had been frequenting bars while underage, will be allowed to keep her title, Donald Trump announced Tuesday.

"I've always been a believer in second chances," Trump, who owns the Miss Universe Organization with NBC, said with Conner at his side.

Trump said he and Conner had met earlier Tuesday morning.

"She left a small town in Kentucky and she was telling me that she got caught up in the whirlwind of New York," Trump said at a news conference. "It's a story that has happened many times before to many women and many men who came to the Big Apple. They wanted their slice of the Big Apple and they found out it wasn't so easy."

Conner won the title in April and has been living in New York. Recent media accounts of heavy drinking brought a storm of criticism since she was underage at the time. She turned 21 on Monday.

In a tear-choked voice, Conner said, "In no way did I think it would be possible for a second chance to be given to me."

Turning to Trump, she said, "You'll never know what this means to me, and I swear I will not let you down."

Trump said Conner would be entering rehab. A pageant official said details would be worked out privately with Conner over the next weeks.

Video of Miss USA Tara Conner's Tearful Apology