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Mothers Against Drunk Driving Cuts Ties With Miss Teen USA Katie Blair Amid Allegations of Hard Partying

Associated Press
Published | Updated

LOS ANGELES – The reigning Miss Teen USA's official biography says she loves hiking, water sports and apples — "only cold, red ones!"

But allegations of less innocent extracurricular activities — underage drinking and carousing with Miss USA Tara Conner — led the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving to sever ties with 18-year-old Katie Blair.

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The day before, Conner had tearfully admitted drinking as a minor at New York nightclubs. She turned 21 on Monday.

"In the past, MADD has teamed with Miss Teen USA to raise awareness about the serious and often deadly consequences of underage drinking," said Heidi Castle, a spokeswoman for MADD, in a statement. "However, we do not feel, at this time, that Ms. Blair can be an effective spokesperson on underage drinking and will not ask her to represent MADD in future initiatives."

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A message left for a representative of Blair, an 18-year-old from Billings, Mont., wasn't returned Wednesday.

Donald Trump — owner of the Miss Universe Organization, which includes Miss Teen USA and Miss USA — said Tuesday at a news conference in New York that he would allow Conner to keep her crown if she settled down and entered alcohol rehab.

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Miss Universe Organization spokeswoman Lark-Marie Anton said Blair's crown also was safe.

Anton said the company respected "MADD's decision as much as we respect their work. We look forward to working with them in the future."

In a story Wednesday in The Billings (Mont.) Gazette, Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, said "a lot of the stories" of Blair's activities were unfounded.

"I'm sorry that Katie got dragged into this," Shugart said. "People just wanted to tell a story, and a lot of it is just to see the name of a particular club in the New York papers, whether it's true or not."

Rosie O'Donnell, co-host of ABC's "The View," said on Wednesday's show that Trump's news conference with Conner had annoyed her "on a multitude of levels."

"Left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair. Had kids both times, but he's the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America," the comedian and actress said to roars of audience laughter. "Donald, sit and spin, my friend."

Trump didn't respond Wednesday to a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment about O'Donnell's remarks.