Miss California Runner-Up: Is She Ready To Step In If Carrie Prejean Stripped Of Crown?

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Carrie Prejean,Tami Farrell,Shanna Moakler,Miss USA,Celebrities,Celebrity Scandals

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Miss Malibu Tami Farrell visits Access Hollywood
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Miss Malibu 2008 Tami Farrell at the ‘One Vote Counts’ event in LA (Oct. 2008)
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Miss California, Carrie Prejean

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FIRST PUBLISHED: May 6, 2009 6:44 PM EDT
LAST UPDATED: May 6, 2009 7:19 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

As controversy continues to surround Miss California Carrie Prejean, now over semi-nude photos of the beauty queen posing in her underwear, the question remains – will she be stripped of her pageant crown?

Should pageant officials decide to remove Carrie from her duties as Miss California, pageant runner-up Miss Malibu Tami Farrell is ready to step in to wear the tiara.

“I would be honored to represent the state of California if they need me for my responsibilities as first runner-up,” Tami told Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush. “I wouldn’t mind stepping into the spotlight.”

As the former Miss Teen USA 2003, Tami said she is ready, willing and able to take over if Carrie loses her crown. But what does she think about all the attention given to the current reigning champ, which started with Carrie’s response to a question about gay marriage at the Miss USA competition?

“There is a lot of controversy right now,” Tami said. “I commend her actually for taking a stance in something she believes in.”

And while Tami supports Carrie for voicing her personal beliefs, she questions the forum in which she chose to do so.

“The problem is that it’s not just about what she believes, she has signed on for a position as Miss California and she cannot represent the entire state based upon her own beliefs,” Tami continued. “She can go for that cause as Carrie, but not as Miss California.”

Given the chance, how would Tami answer the question of gay marriage, which thrust her counterpart into the headlines?

“Had I got it, I would think let the people of each state decide and let the laws be made on that sense,” Tami said. “I’m just a simple beauty queen and I think it’s funny that it’s a question scholars and politicians have debated on, and now we’re looking to a beauty queen for the answers.”

Another topic of debate concerning Carrie was her breast augmentation, which pageant officials confirmed was paid for by the pageant organization in effort to enhance her chances at the Miss USA competition.

“The Miss California Organization paid for her breast augmentation. Does that surprise you?” Billy asked Tami.

“It surprised me, but I think it’s her personal decision,” Tami noted. “Honestly, I feel that when she won Miss California, judges fell in love with who she was and I don’t think that she needed to have it.”

“[Co-Executive Director of the Miss California Organization] Shanna Moakler told me they offer it to everyone,” Billy said. “If you become Miss California, they’ll offer it to you, I guess.”

“I think I’m good,” Tami smiled. “I’m good with this body.”

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