NEW YORK (AP) - Will Miss USA suffer the same fate as many an apprentice—"You're fired!" from Donald Trump? The Miss Universe Organization, owned by Trump and NBC, scheduled a news conference Tuesday to discuss Miss USA Tara Conner, who has come under fire amid reports she has visited bars, though she is not yet 21. In a statement last week, the organization's president, Paula M. Shugart, said officials would evaluate Conner's "behavioral and personal issues to see what we can do to work with her and what we will do about her reign going forward."
Miss USA is considered a role model, and her conduct must reflect that, Miss Universe Organization spokeswoman Lark-Marie Anton said last week. Behavior such as underage drinking is clearly prohibited, she said.
Trump declined to discuss the 20-year-old's behavior last week, but said if Conner did get the boot, first runner-up Miss California Tamiko Nash would take over as Miss USA.
"We have to make a decision," he said. "There is no question about that."
Conner, a 5-foot-5 blonde, has been competing in pageants since age 4. After winning the Miss USA title in April, she finished fourth in the Miss Universe pageant in July.
"I am an easygoing, down-to-earth girl," Conner said in her contestant profile. "Throughout my life, hardships and different experiences have made me a very humbled, yet strong individual. It is because of these life lessons that I have become the person I am today."
In 2002, Miss Russia Oxana Fedorova won the Miss Universe pageant but was stripped of her title after violating her contract. Trump said Fedorova didn't show up for some photo shoots and charity events. It was the first time a titleholder had been ousted in the contest's more than 50-year history.
"We had a Miss Universe from Russia that was a total disaster, and we fired her, and Miss Panama took over, and she did great," Trump said. Fedorova denied she was fired and said she gave up the title voluntarily.
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