Miss RI defends racy photos & Miss Cali

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (FOX Providence) - It's official Carrie Prejean is keeping her crown, after several topless pictures of her surfaced. But, the controversy wasn't only surrounding Carrie. Miss Rhode Island, Alysha Castonguay was brought in to the battle when topless photos that she had taken for Maxim Magazine came to light.

Alysha joined The Rhode Show Wednesday morning and explained why her photos don't make her uncomfortable in the least bit.

"I wasn't uncomfortable when I did the photo shoot. It was a modeling job for me and it was very professional," said Castonguay.

Some may say taking those pictures was a very adult choice. But, Castonguay says at 18 years old, you are an adult.

"This is Miss U.S.A., I was 18 years old, I was an adult, old enough to make that decision and I think that's one of the reasons why we have Miss Teen U.S.A. and Miss U.S.A. If you are 18 years old, if you're an adult and have the ability to make the decision and it's going to further your career - I was a New England Patriots cheerleader at the time, and it was a great opportunity for me. And I grabbed it. I'm from the little state of Rhode Island, and every opportunity you get, you grab. And I would definitely encourage anybody who has that opportunity, who's 18 years old, to go and do it," explained Castonguay.

Despite the semi-nude photos of both Carrie Prejean and Alysha Castonguay swirling the internet, it was only Prejean who was in danger of losing her title. What's the difference between the pictures? Honesty.

"What I did, my photos were actually published on Maxim.com, so I went to the Miss Universe Organization and laid out all my pictures, just to make sure there wasn't any controversy that was going to happen. I didn't want to be out there, and get stripped of my crown. I didn't want any of that to happen to me. So, before I competed for Rhode Island, I made sure the photos were okay and The Miss Universe Organization was very understanding, and had the same view as me. It was a modeling job, professional," said Castonguay.

Even still, Castonguay sticks behind Miss California, coming to Prejean's defense.

"Well, I don't think that all of her pictures were published. I think that some of them were leaked and they should not have been seen by anybody. Sometimes when you're in a photo shoot and it's like that, you have a slip, you have an accident and for the photographer to come out and do that to her is awful."

Castonguay was also asked from if she the campaign of destruction against Prejean started during the contest when she was asked whether or not she believed in gay marriage.

"I don't think that the judge who asked that question was prepared to hear the answer both ways. And when you ask a question like that, I think you need to take in to consideration which way it can go. We're 51 girls, we all have our individual opinions on things and I'm sure if it was any other girl, one girl may have the same opinion as her, another one may not have."