LOS ANGELES , California ( CNN ) -- Miss California USA pageant officials appear close to announcing if they will strip Carrie Prejean of her crown because of her lingerie photos and same-sex marriage statements . Miss California USA Carrie Prejean may lose her crown because of some semi-nude photos she appeared in . The pageant 's first runner-up , Tami Farrell , who would assume the Miss California USA title if Prejean is disqualified , will be at a Beverly Hills news conference Monday to `` address many issues surrounding Miss California USA , '' said pageant spokesman Ron Neal . The controversy began last month when Prejean , 21 , declared her opposition to same-sex marriage in a response to a question on the national pageant stage . She finished as first runner-up to Miss USA . Calls for her dethronement took on renewed energy this week when at least two photos of Prejean from a lingerie modeling session were published online , which Neal said violated the contract she signed to be in the pageant . In a statement given to CNN on Tuesday , Prejean said the photos were being used in a `` vicious and mean-spirited '' effort to silence her for `` defending traditional marriage . '' She vowed to `` continue to support and defend marriage as the honorable institution it is . '' The presence of Farrell on the list of those expected to be at the announcement -- and the absence of Prejean -- may suggest officials already have decided to replace her . Shanna Moakler , co-executive director of the state pageant , met with Farrell this week to discuss the possibility of her taking over as Miss California USA , Neal said . Ironically , Moakler -- who was the 1995 Miss USA -- became a Playboy centerfold model . As a top official with the Miss California USA organization , she plays a key role in deciding if the lingerie photos of Prejean are too racy for a beauty queen . State pageant officials met this week with lawyers and representatives of Donald Trump , who owns the international competition , to consider whether they had grounds to take the crown away from Prejean , according to Neal . `` When you compete for Miss California , you 're supposed to disclose whether you posed for nude or semi-nude photos , because it 's grounds for disqualification , '' Neal said . Watch reaction to racy photos » . CNN obtained a copy of the pageant contract Prejean signed last year , in which she agreed that the discovery of semi-nude photos could mean disqualification . The two photos show Prejean -- who said she was 17 at the time -- wearing pink panties and no top . She is turned away from the camera , with an arm hiding most of her breast . It was unclear whether pageant officials would consider them semi-nude photos . During the pageant , contestants must parade across the stage wearing a bikini that arguably shows more skin than the photos reveal . Prejean defended the photos , which she said were taken when she was a teenager aspiring to be a professional model . `` I am a Christian , and I am a model , '' she said . `` Models pose for pictures , including lingerie and swimwear photos . '' She said the photos `` have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid Web site that openly mocks me for my Christian faith . '' `` I am not perfect , and I will never claim to be , '' she said . `` But these attacks on me and others who speak in defense of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive . While we may not agree on every issue , we should show respect for others ' opinions and not try to silence them through vicious and mean-spirited attacks . '' Her publicist , Melany Ethridge , confirmed a comment she gave to celebrity Web site TMZ in which she said Prejean was 17 when she posed for the photos , hoping they would land her a modeling job . `` In her naivete , an agent convinced her to pose for this photo to submit to a lingerie company , claiming they could make her the next Victoria 's Secret model , '' Ethridge told TMZ . `` She has since learned what a lie that was , and what a mistake it was to have the photo taken . '' Prejean announced last week that she would star in a new $ 1.5 million ad campaign supporting what she called `` opposite marriage '' ( marriage between a man and a woman ) funded by the National Organization for Marriage . `` Marriage is good , '' Prejean said at a news conference announcing the ad campaign . `` There is something special about unions of husband and wife . Unless we bring men and women together , children will not have mothers and fathers . ''
Miss California USA pageant officials to have Monday news conference . Scheduled to be on hand : Tami Farrell , first runner-up . Miss California USA Carrie Prejean might be stripped of title due to issues . Comment: