Ashley Harder, Miss New Jersey USA, voluntarily stepped down from her reign because she is pregnant. The news of this incident appeared in Monday’s edition of The Philadelphia Daily News.
The twenty year-old Harder told the newspaper the reason for giving up her title. She resigned because competing while pregnant went against pageant rules.
When Pageant officials found out about Harder’s resignation, they called runner-up Erin Abrahamson for her to assume the title.
When Abrahamson, 23, found out about Harder, she only had this comment for the press. “Whatever made her resign, I wish her lots of luck and I hope she’s OK!”
Within the last three months, this is the third controversial incident that rocked the Miss USA organization that is own by Donald Trump. First, it was Tara Conner who almost lost her Miss USA title due her excessive drinking in New York bars when she was underage. She was allowed to keep her title after she agreed to go to rehab and get drug tested.
The second occurrence involved Miss Nevada USA, Katie Rees, who was stripped of her title after lewd pictures of her appeared on the Internet.
Harder who was crowned in October, told The Philadelphia Daily News that she would marry her 28-year-old boyfriend, snowboard entrepreneur, Gregg D’Antonio. She will give birth around ‘late summer’.
The former Miss New Jersey who was once a contender for Miss Universe has no regret about her decision.
“I was so excited I wanted to tell the world.” Harder said to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “It was so difficult for me to keep quiet.”
“Life happens.” She told the Inquirer. “Initially, I was a tiny bit disappointed, I wouldn’t be competing. But there was no comparing the two: Miss USA or a baby, a baby that had been sent to me by God.”
According to published reports, pageant spokeswoman, Lark-Marie Anton did not expound on the reason for Harder’s registration.
“It’s only for personal reasons.” Lark-Marie Anton told the press.
The Miss USA pageant will be held on March 23 in Los Angeles. The winner from that pageant will go on to compete in the Miss Universe late this year. Miss Universe is also owned by Trump.
Photo credit: philly.com
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2 responses so far ↓
Stephanie // Feb 4, 2007 at 8:08 pm
These women are supposed to be role models for young girls. How does shacking up with the boyfriend and getting knocked up fit into that?!
And I don’t think GOD gave her that kid. She fornicated without proper protection. That usually leads to pregnancy, moron.
Tami B. // Feb 5, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Stephanie -
I know you have so many poor examples for the young girls these days. If you want to get technical, you just look at our current political leaders. They are usually reflect what’s going in the society– duh?
You shouldn’t be so judgmental? You don’t whether she got pregnant on purpose or forgot her protection, you fool.
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