Miss USA Tara Conner Admits to Cocaine Use
Miss USA Tara Conner, who checked out of rehab on Jan. 21, says she used cocaine prior to her treatment.
“Cocaine was one of the drugs that I did use. It’s hard to look back at that,” she tells PEOPLE in its new issue. “I was an equal-opportunity [user] – I would try anything once.”
The 21-year-old Russell Springs, Ky., native spent 31 days at the Caron Foundation rehab facility in Wernersville, Pa., as part of a “second chance” offered to her by Donald Trump, co-owner of the Miss Universe organization, following press reports of underage drinking, drug use and promiscuity.
When asked about the rumored romantic escapades, she hedges: “I would talk to more than one guy at once – it doesn’t mean that I was sexually active with every one of these people.”
It was alcohol, she says, that had the biggest hold on her. Citing a family history of alcoholism, Conner says that for many years she was “a functioning alcoholic. If I got caught [drinking], I would stop – I was able to do that.”
(Conner also says in a Today interview airing Thursday, “I have done cocaine, yes.” According to the New York Post’s Page Six, Conner tells Matt Lauer she took antidepressants and other drugs that triggered an allergic reaction.)
Before rehab, she tells PEOPLE, “I thought I needed to be around people, that I needed that acceptance.” Now, instead of going to clubs, she enjoys reading at home – a home she shares with a chaperone.
“I just can’t wait to get back to work,” she says. ” ‘I’m Miss U.S.A., my name is Tara Conner, and I’m happy to meet you,’ you know? Life’s good.”
January 31st, 2007 at 7:41 am
Man! What’s next?!? Are we going to find out she use to kill puppies for fun? Sad, just really sad…
January 31st, 2007 at 8:09 am
Ya this is sad. I don’t think a girl like this should be Miss USA.
January 31st, 2007 at 8:48 am
I think she IS a good Miss USA. She’s an example that you can make mistakes, and over come them through hard work & facing up to it.
January 31st, 2007 at 9:10 am
So fucking what? Shes a young girl, with normal problems a lot of youth’s face. What is sad is those dumb ass contests
January 31st, 2007 at 9:39 am
Nice girl for our daughters to look up to……
January 31st, 2007 at 10:32 am
If your daughter looks up to Miss USA, you’ve got more problems than she does…
January 31st, 2007 at 11:29 am
I went to the website to see if I could find some sort of definition of the type of girl that represents Miss USA … cause who knows, mabye my opinion is off base.
This is the closest thing I could find:
“These women are savvy, goal-oriented and aware. The delegates who become part of the Miss Universe Organization display those characteristics in their everyday lives, both as individuals who participate in the competitions to advance their careers, personal and humanitarian goals, and as women who seek to improve the lives of others.” (http://www.missusa.com/corpinfo/index.html)
I totally think it’s awesome she doesn’t want to be an alcoholic anymore and has quit using hard drugs, like cocaine. As part of being Miss USA is to help improve others lives, I’d like to see her use her past substance abuse problems as a teaching lessons to kids.
shit, I changed my mind again. see below
I just thought of the scenario where kids will be like, ‘well Miss USA used drugs and she’s fine, I’ll smoke this joint take some E and snort some coke and I’ll be fine too.’
Not to say that it can’t happen, shit, me and all my friends have done this stuff - but I know plenty of people who couldn’t keep it recreational (Like MIss USA suffered from) and are still paying the price of their past drug use.
I don’t think Miss USA should be a recovering alcoholic or drug user. It just doesn’t sit well with me.
but of course, what i think doesn’t matter in the least….
January 31st, 2007 at 1:57 pm
That kills me. She was crying at her press conference, and Trump ate it up, but this looks good on him, cuz it doesn’t look like she was very truthful then. So if she starts using again, is anyone going to know? And he thinks the other girl had no right to her title? Way to go Trump. You sure do pick them.
February 1st, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Guess we just lowered the standard for what Miss USA should be. So next year’s contestants could be possible felons. If you don’t have a higher standard than this, then it’s time to do away with these stupid contests!
February 11th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
MISS USA = SATAN
February 11th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Tara Conner is Satan!
Be scared Tara, we have a mandate from the people and GOD almighty!
February 11th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
(Sung to the tune of “This Old Man”)
I love you,
You love me,
We’re a happy family
Then a shot rang out and Tara hit the floor
No more alcoholic w**re!
April 9th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
cool site!!! A ++++. Really nice valuable information and fine layout:)))) Well who didn’t use cociane in this hypocrat state?
August 17th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
If The Hellspawn (you know who) is reading this:
You may not be Miss USA anymore, but you are still EVIL!!
I wish you had a brain tumor.
And it was malignant.
August 17th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
On second thought, perhaps I don’t think you should get a brain tumor. You’re not evil enough to deserve that.
August 17th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
I am sorry that I insulted Tara, the Miss Universe Organization, and the state of Kentucky. I am SO sorry. I’m NOT being sarcastic. I promise.