"I feel like I’m the winner. I really do, Billy," she said Monday.

Hilton, who appeared to be holding back his anger following Prejean's response, exploded with rage against her in a video posting on his blog.

The Hollywood blogger called Prejean a "stupid b----" in the video and said he would have gone up on stage and snatched the tiara from her head if she had won Miss USA.

Hilton said if he was Miss California, he would have responded: "Hmm. Perez, that's a great question. That's a very hot topic in our country right now. And I think that is a question that each state should decide for themselves because that's how our forefathers designed our government."

He has since apologised for calling her names and said he would love to take her out for coffee to "talk".

Keith Lewis, who runs the Miss California competition, told FOXNews.com that he was "saddened" and "hurt" over Miss California's comments.

"I believe all religions should be able to ordain what unions they see fit," he said. "I do not believe our government should be able to discriminate against anyone and religious beliefs have no politics in the Miss California family."

Lewis also released a statement on the Miss California website.

"I am proud of Carrie Prejean’s beauty and placement at the 2009 MISS USA pageant," he stated. "I support Carrie’s right to express her personal beliefs even if they do not coincide with my own. I believe the subject of gay marriage deserves a great deal more conversation in order to heal the divide it has created."

Prejean's school, San Diego Christian College, responded to the news of her nabbing the first runner-up title.

"As a community we congratulate Carrie on this accomplishment," the school stated in an update of a story on Prejean. "She is a great example of a student who is seeking to have an impact on the world for Christ."

According to the school's article, Prejean is studying toward a career in special education. She is also active in her community, serving in a ministry that helps women in the adult entertainment industry, volunteering at the local International Ministry Center where she has helped refugees learn to speak English, and mentoring children in foster care through the programme Voices for Children.