U.S. pageant co-executive quits

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Co-executive director

of the Miss California USA pageant, Shanna Moakler, resigned Wednesday in

protest over Miss Universe pageant owner Donald Trump's decision that Miss

California could retain her crown despite controversy over her topless photos

and anti-gay marriage views.

"I no longer believe in the organization because of

pageant owner Donald Trump's decision to let the state's controversial title

holder, Carrie Prejean, keep her crown," Moakler, a former Miss USA titleholder

and a supporter of gay marriage, said in a statement.

She said: "I cannot with a clear conscious move

forward supporting and promoting the Miss Universe Organization when I no longer

believe in it, or the contracts I signed committing myself as a youth."

Trump announced in New York's Trump Tower Tuesday

that Carrie Prejean "will remain Miss California." His decision came a day after

Moakler angrily accused Prejean of violating the contract she signed with

pageant organizers at a press conference Monday.

Miss California came under fire when she expressed

her opinion on gay marriage and claimed her answer cost her the Miss USA crown

last month.

Prejean risked losing her crown after pictures of her

wearing little more than skimpy bottoms appeared on the Internet, despite having

stated that she had never posed nude or semi-nude.

Trump, however, said the photos did not violate her

contract as Miss California.

(Agencies)