Ashley Harder, Miss New Jersey, resigns due to pregnancy

Ashley Harder, 20, who is the current holder of the Miss New Jersey USA 2007, has resigned because she is pregnant. Harder told The Philadelphia Daily News that she stepped down because it is against the pageant rules to be pregnant, making the tiara go over to runner-up Erin Abrahamson.

Ashley’s first child is due "late summer" and she also is planning to marry the father of the baby. Of the pregnancy and her decision to resign, Ashley said,

This isn’t another scandal. This is a baby; this is a life.

Source: CNN

Thanks to CBB readers Catherine, Heather and Ashley.

Comments

slightly harsh don’t you think? just because shes pregnant she has to resign

- maz on January 16th, 2007

Congrats to her and her boyfriend. I don’t see what her being pregnant has to due with her keeping her title. At least she isn’t getting an abortion she is taking responsibility for her actions.

- Michelle on January 16th, 2007

Good for her! Putting the baby first is an amazing sacrifice!

- Brittany on January 16th, 2007

so what is wrong with birth conrol. sure she is in a committed relationship but she is 20 without a college degree and no viable career.

how do people accidentally get pregant today? birth control fails when it is not used not because it isn’t full proof

- nancy on January 16th, 2007

If you make it to Miss New Jersey you have definitely been around the pageant scene a while. So I’m sure she knew the pregnancy policies……

- Madison on January 16th, 2007

To compete in any of the “Miss” pageants, you have to be single and childless- as in, NEVER been married and NEVER had a child. If you’re married/have kids, you compete in the “Mrs.” pageants. I’d imagine it’s just to make the groups a little more specific, not to make value judgements.

- Jan on January 16th, 2007

Wow Nancy glad your bc never failed. Some people can get pregnant on bc. It is not 100%!

- Yonni on January 16th, 2007

Ashley was actually brand new to the pageant scene when she entered Miss NJ USA. She actually entered one month before the pageant on a whim.

- Anonymous on January 16th, 2007

Nancy, who are you to be judging how/why she got pregnant? Not one birth control is 100% full proof.

- Kelly on January 16th, 2007

Aside from it being in rules that one cannot be pregant during their reign, the Miss USA pageant is in March which means she will likely be showing and unable to compete in that pageant.

- lizzielui on January 16th, 2007

Birth control sometimes fails. The pill is only 98% effective, condoms break, etc. I’ve known women who’ve gotten pregnant accidentally while using the pill because their doctors failed to tell them that taking antibiotics lowers the effectiveness of the pill.

I don’t see anything wrong with her being pregnant regardless of her age. She’s choosing the baby over the pageant which I think is extremely responsible of her to do.

- Lorus on January 16th, 2007

Nancy–why are you assuming that this is some unwanted, accidental pregnancy? This is a grown woman. She’s 20 years old and has had many accomplishments in her life. Whether she has a college degree shouldn’t matter. That doesn’t make her any less of a good mother. Shame on you for judging people.

Personally, I don’t think her title should be removed. Worse is that the media is comparing her situation to the scandals of Miss Nevada and Miss USA. It’s not the same AT ALL. This woman is pregnant, having a baby. That is something joyous and beautiful.

- Noelle on January 16th, 2007

Nancy:

“how do people accidentally get pregant today? birth control fails when it is not used not because it isn’t full proof”

That is such an ignorant (and judgemental) thing to say. Birth control CAN fail, even when used properly.

- pooky on January 16th, 2007

This reminds me of the movie, “Beautiful” with Minnie Driver and Hallie Kate Eisenberg about a beauty contestant who lies about having a child so she can enter a pageant. Sometimes I think the rules should change or to have pageants for mothers/wives – I don’t see the big deal. I don’t really follow these things though so I don’t know much about them.

- J.M. on January 16th, 2007

Nothing is 100% when it comes to preventing pregnancy, I know…I got pregnant 4 years after my husbands vasectomy.

- Colleen on January 16th, 2007

I’m sorry, nancy, but I’m upset with your post. Birth control is not 100% effective, therefore it IS still possible to become pregnant while on birth control. I know, I’m pregnant right now and was using birth control. I’ve also known people who were on the pill and using the condom at the same time who got pregnant. So birth control isn’t a sure thing that you won’t get pregnant.

And good for her to keep her baby and turn in the crown, I’m sure other “Miss” pageant winners would not do the same thing.

- Kim on January 16th, 2007

This is only right. These girls are supposed to be role models for young girls and therefore they need to show some morals – even if we’re now used to seeing unwed mothers, etc.

Personally, I’m pretty sick of hearing about these “beauty queens.” I say that lately these girls have shown that these pageants are nothing but jokes now. In my opinion, it’s time to hang up the tiaras and crowns. But that’s just me.

- Erin on January 16th, 2007

I think it’s really honorable that she herself stepped down as opposed to having Trump or another pageant official find out later on and have to let her go. Putting her baby before her pageant shows that she already values her child’s life before pageants, so at least this is one beauty queen with straight priorities. I understand why the pageant doesn’t want its young contestants to be or ever have been married or pregnant, but I almost think they should let her compete on the basis of her good judgement.

- Lauren on January 16th, 2007

Who cares how she got pregnant, at least she is taking responsiblity for it. I was on birth control and I got pregnant with my fiancee and my baby who is 18 months now. Let her live her life the way she wants. Its her life.

- Heather on January 16th, 2007

http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/1997/conceptbl.html

NO birth control is 100% effective. And even if she wasn’t using birth control or was trying for a baby, who are you to judge her current situation? Unless you know her personally and know the exact state of her finances, it’s really unfair to say she shouldn’t be having this baby.

Personally, I applaud her for putting the life of her child before that of her beauty crown.

- Zoey on January 17th, 2007

I can understand why it is against the rules for competing beauty queens to be pregnant, but why should a reigning one lose her crown for it?

- Sabina on January 17th, 2007

While she holds the title she has to follow the rules, just like no pregnant woman can compete for the title. She is a rolemodel for young kids – it makes sense.

- Erin on January 17th, 2007

Nancy, your post was ignorant. Maybe she skipped a pill by accident or took antibiotics or was just that small percent that gets pregnant on the pill anyway. It happens. People are human. I got pregnant on the pill just from 2 days of antibiotics…I remembered on the 3rd day that it weakens birth control but it was too late…Now I have a gorgeous little boy. I commend her for keeping the child and stepping down.

- Kori on January 17th, 2007

FYI!! Birth control is 100% effective if used the right way, but the companies that make BC arnt going to be held liable by saying that because there are so many things like medications and alchol and skipping days on the pill that lower the effectivness, and they arnt going to set themselves up to be sued. But honestly who cares if she is pregnant the most important thing is she is putting her child first. I wish her all the luck in the world. And screw everyone else who has a problem with it. She is an adult and she is starting a family. I see nothing wrong.

- anna on February 22nd, 2007