Caroline Michelle "Carrie" Prejean Boller (born May 13, 1987) is an American model and writer who rose to national attention through beauty pageants in the late 2000s. She won the Miss California USA title in 2009 and was the first runner-up at the Miss USA 2009 competition. Her career has encompassed modeling, public speaking and authorship, and she has remained a public figure in debates about pageantry, media coverage and social issues.

Pageant career and public attention

Prejean's visibility increased after the Miss USA 2009 telecast, where a judge's question about same-sex marriage drew a nationally reported answer and strong media reaction. The exchange prompted widespread commentary across news outlets and social media, making her a focal point of conversations about personal belief, public roles and the responsibilities of pageant contestants. She completed the pageant as first runner-up and accepted the accompanying public exposure.

Aftermath and controversy

In the months following the pageant, Prejean's relationship with pageant organizers soured. She was later stripped of the Miss California USA crown amid allegations of contractual breaches by the organization. The dispute was covered extensively and raised questions about the terms and expectations that govern pageant titleholders, as well as the balance between personal expression and official duties.

Career, writing and public roles

Beyond competition, Prejean pursued modeling and media appearances and later turned to writing. She published a memoir recounting her experiences on the public stage and the fallout from the controversy, and she has taken part in interviews and speaking engagements centered on her perspective. Her activities have often intersected with conversations about media, celebrity and the cultural role of pageantry.

Personal life

Prejean married former NFL quarterback Kyle Boller on July 2, 2010, and the couple has two children. She now uses the surname Boller in many public references and continues to balance family life with professional projects. For more information about her later appearances and publications see profiles and interviews.

  • Roles: model, beauty pageant contestant, memoirist, public speaker
  • Notable facts: Miss California USA 2009 winner; Miss USA 2009 first runner-up; involved in a high-profile public controversy that generated debate on free speech and pageant rules