Prejean, a devout Christian, made headlines April 19 when she answered a question about same-sex marriage during the 2009 Miss USA pageant and said she believed marriage should be defined as the union of a man and a woman.
The statement prompted much discussion with critics denouncing her as homophobic and supporters praising her for speaking her mind.
"That answer, and my commitment to stand by my beliefs, has since resulted in attacks on me and my integrity as a woman. We live in a great country; a nation that was built on freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Yet my comments defending traditional marriage have led to intimidation tactics that seek to undermine my reputation and somehow silence me and my beliefs, as if opinion is only a one-way street," Prejean said in a statement issued Tuesday.
The beauty queen went on to address the recent leaking of sexy photos of her on the Internet.
"I am a Christian, and I am a model. Models pose for pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos. Recently, photos taken of me as a teenager 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," Prejean 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."
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