Miss USA Tara Conner's crown is safe for now as pageant officials review "behavioral and personal issues" amid reports of bad behavior at bars, FOXNews.com has learned.
“Miss USA Tara Conner has not been dethroned," said Paula M. Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, in a statement. "The Miss Universe Organization and Mr. Donald J. Trump will be evaluating her behavioral and personal issues to see what we can do to work with her, and what we will do about her reign going forward.
"Mr. Trump will make a determination and announcement within the coming week,” she said. Trump is an owner of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.
The celebrity gossip Web site TMZ.com reported Thursday that executives from both the pageant and its broadcaster, NBC, met Tuesday to discuss reported problems with Kentucky native Conner, 20, and allegations of inappropriate conduct at New York City bars, according to the TMZ report, which cites unidentified sources.
• Video: Interview with TMZ.com managing editor Harvey Levin
TMZ.com managing editor Harvey Levin told FOX News on Thursday that Conner, who is under the U.S. legal age limit of 21 for alcohol consumption, had been "drinking too much, among other things."
He said his sources indicated pageant officials think "this Miss USA was out of control" and they "want her to fade into the background."
Pageant execs were said to be displeased with Conner's actions in public.
Rules dictate that the first runner-up — in this case Miss California, Tamiko Nash — would take the Miss USA crown and assume the duties that come with it if the reigning pageant queen is stripped of her title.
A representative for Nash told FOXNews.com that she was prepared to serve out the year if necessary.
"We're saddened to hear that there is any problem with the current title holder," said John Samatulski, a spokesman for K2 Productions, which sponsors the Miss California USA event. "But Tamiko Nash has always aspired to be Miss USA, and she would of course accept those duties if offered that."
Samatulksi said he didn't know details of the troubles surrounding Conner, but so far his company hasn't sent Nash to New York City, where the reigning Miss USA is based for the year she wears the crown. Nash, 26, lives in Los Angeles.
"I've just heard that there was a situation," he said. "We have not put her [Nash] on a plane."
Nash and Conner were "friendly" during the pageant proceedings, according to Samatulski. As for whether Nash was excited at the prospect of becoming Miss USA, he said "her main concern right now is just for Tara, hoping whatever the situation is, it resolves itself."
Every Miss USA must sign a contract about what is expected of her during the year she wears the crown.
"The rules are known to them before they take the title, and it's commonly accepted that they will abide by them," said Samatulski. "I think they're role models, and they must uphold the standards to which they participate in the event."
It isn't the first time problems have plagued a major American pageant. In July 1984, then Miss America Vanessa Williams of New York was forced to step down after nude magazine photographs she'd once posed for were circulated. Suzette Charles of New Jersey served out the remaining two months as Miss America.
Nash is the third African American woman to be crowed Miss California. She is currently working in the entertainment industry and has appeared in a number of national commercials, on rapper Snoop Dogg's new album cover and in an E! Networks behind-the-scenes show about Miss USA contestants, according to Samatulski.
Conner, of Russell Springs, Ky., has held the Miss USA title since winning it in April.
FOX News' Sara Bonisteel contributed to this report.
• Video: Interview with TMZ.com managing editor Harvey Levin
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