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Miss USA Tara Conner reacts after being
named a semi-finalist during the Miss Universe 2006 Pageant at the Shrine
Auditorium in Los Angeles July 23, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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BEIJING,
Feb. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Miss USA Tara Conner, who was nearly dethroned for her
hard-partying ways, has admitted cocaine use and alcoholism.
"I have done cocaine, yeah," said the Kentucky blonde
in an excerpt of interview aired on Wednesday on NBC television's "Today" show,
the first television interview since she ended a 31-day stint in rehab.
In further excerpts from the interview, Conner said
she had "the disease of alcoholism and addiction."
At a press conference in December, Donald Trump, who
owns the Miss USA pageant, said Conner could hold onto her crown if she changed
her ways. She then entered rehab.
Media reports at the time said Conner, who at 20
was under the legal drinking age, had been partying hard at New York nightclubs
and was using drugs.
Conner said she had all sorts of insecurities from a
young age. "Things started unraveling for me very early, at a very young age.
Probably about around 14. I have the disease of alcoholism and addiction," she
said.
Conner said she felt relieved to speak openly about
her addictions. "It gets it off my chest," she said.
The beauty queen's interview was the first time
in which she's publicly admitted to anything more than a fondness for libations.
(Agencies)
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