Prejean's Mom: Carrie's Been 'Persecuted'

The controversy continues for Miss California Carrie Prejean as racy pix continue to be leaked to the net, and now Prejean's mom is speaking out about the scandal surrounding her daughter.

"My daughter is a bright, beautiful, strong woman," Carrie's mother Francine tells MomLogic.com. "She entered a pageant to WIN... she was asked a question and she answered it HONESTLY and from her heart... this is a country that allows freedom of speech. She has every right to exercise it... and she did."

She continued, "She had the courage that evening to face an evil man in front of millions of viewers... and not be afraid to speak what was in her heart! I know God is going to protect her from this evil man and all the others that are trying to attack her for voicing her opinion." The "evil man" she's referred to is blogger Perez Hilton.

In response, Perez tells MomLogic, "Obviously Francine Prejean has been talking with the devil more than she has with God. I don't think I'm evil. She does. We can respectfully disagree... the question I asked was fair and relevant. Carrie Prejean did not answer it as well as she could have. To this day, neither Carrie nor her mother acknowledge the fact that I was not upset with her answer to my question but HOW she answered it. Oh, and I spoke to God again today. She says that Carrie's title as Miss California should be taken away!"

During a press conference today, co-executive directors of the Miss California USA pageant, Keith Lewis and Shanna Moakler, strongly criticized many of Prejean's actions, but said that it is up to Miss USA pageant owner Donald Trump whether Carrie will need to forfeit her crown. That decision will likely come down tomorrow.