NEW YORK – The organizers of the Miss USA pageant said Thursday they are evaluating the “behavioral and personal issues” of the reigning winner and will decide her future within a week.
Pageant officials and Donald Trump, who co-owns the Miss Universe Organization with NBC, would not say what Kentucky native Tara Conner, 20, had done to prompt the serious evaluation.
“I can’t really talk about it now,” Trump said. “But we have to make a decision. There is no question about that.”
Internet gossip Web site TMZ.com reported that pageant officials and NBC met Tuesday to discuss Conner’s alleged bad behavior, “including her conduct at New York City bars.” The Web site did not name its sources.
Miss USA is considered a role model and must act accordingly, said Lark-Marie Anton, spokeswoman for the Miss Universe Organization, which produces the Miss USA pageant. Behavior such as underage drinking is clearly prohibited, she said.