Prejean: Racy photo meant to mock me

Miss California Carrie Prejean has said that the racy photo of her that appeared on the internet on Monday was meant to "mock" her for being a Christian.

A photo of the beauty queen posing topless first surfaced on TheDirty.com. It could affect her status as Miss California because her contract forbids her from being "photographed in a state of partial or total nudity", E! reports.

Prejean admitted that the photo was taken while she was a teenager, saying that she believes it was leaked because of her controversial comments about non-traditional marriage.

"My comments defending traditional marriage have lead to intimidation tactics that seek to undermine my reputation and somehow silence my beliefs, as if opinion is only a one-way street," she said.

"I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be. But these attacks on me and others who speak in defence of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive."

The Miss USA contestant recently began campaigning for the National Organisation for Marriage.