Tara Conner is preparing to hand over her crown and is reflecting on her tumultuous reign as Miss USA.
The beauty queen spent one month of her 12 month time in power in a Pennsylvania rehabilitation center for addiction and alcoholism after she was caught partying and disgracing the Miss USA reputation.
Conner was forced to seek help by the competition co-owner Donald Trump, who allowed her to keep her crown if she changed her lifestyle.
As she readies herself to return to normal life, Conner told "Last Call With Carson Daly" that The Donald saved her life.
According to TMZ.com, she said if it wasn't for Trump, "I'd probably still be using. I could be dead or in jail, I'm grateful."
Conner was just one of many stars who sought help via rehab in the past few months. Actress Lindsay Lohan, singers Robbie Williams and Keith Urban are just a few of the other famous names who have checked themselves in.
The most famous patient, however, is Britney Spears.
Of the pop star's reluctance to attend rehab initially, Conner told Daly, "It's different strokes for different folks, I had to stay put because my disease was progressed way too far to be jumping in and out."
With a new pretty face about to be named, the contest's executive producer, Phil Gurin, told the Associated Press that they will continue to lead by Conner's brave example.
He said, "Certainly, our reigning Miss USA is going to be on television and we're certainly not going to shy away from referring to what happened. Why shy away from what's part of our family? We embrace our family."
 | | |  |  | |
