Topless Photos Spark Beauty Pageant War

Sept. 6 -- Two North Carolina beauty queens have taken their battle for the crown to federal court.

As the Miss America competition — the biggest beauty pageant of the year — approaches, one question remains — will it be Misty or Rebekah sporting the Miss North Carolina sash on the runway?

"There are two Miss North Carolinas right now," Misty Clymer said today on ABCNEWS' Good Morning America.

Clymer, the runner-up in the Miss North Carolina pageant, took over for the winner, Rebekah Revels, when Revels bowed out after her boyfriend revealed he had photos in which she appeared topless.

Now the winner wants her crown back. But her replacement doesn't want to give it up.

‘An Unusual Situation’

On Wednesday, state Superior Court Judge Narley Cashwell ruled that despite the photo controversy, she should keep the Miss North Carolina title. The very next day, in a court hearing to sort out conflicting claims from Revels and Clymer, Cashwell announced he no longer had jurisdiction because the case is now in federal court.

Miss America Pageant officials decided to take the dispute to federal court. They say they won't recognize Revels as Miss North Carolina — unless a federal judge rules otherwise.

After hearing arguments from both sides today, U.S. District Judge James Fox indicated a ruling might not come right away, saying that there is plenty of time for a proper hearing since the actual Miss America contest begins later this month.

Clymer says she has been acting as Miss North Carolina and fulfilling the standard beauty queen duties for a month now, and she wants to hold on to her chance to compete for the Miss America crown.

"It's an unusual situation," Clymer said.

"Whatever happens, happens. We've increased North Carolina's odds for getting into the top 10," she joked on Good Morning America.

Both Revels and Clymer plan to head to Philadelphia this weekend, where they hope to participate in preliminaries for the nationalpageant.