14 DAY TRIAL // Shanna Moakler, mostly known for her marriage to Travis Barker of the Blink-182 fame, is also a former Miss USA, a director on the Miss California pageant and a member of the panel of judges on the latest national edition, which ended in the Miss California controversy because of diverging opinions on marriage. After speaking up against Carrie Prejean and amidst intensifying backlash, Moakler is again making a stand by participating in the NO H8 campaign.
The campaign is, according to Us Magazine, aimed at slamming Proposition 8 and eliminating discrimination on the grounds of orientation, which is precisely what Prejean did on the Miss USA finale, it is being said. Because Moakler has already spoken her mind about Miss California’s answer regarding marriage, it is believed the campaign is her way of showing the younger beauty queen just how wrong she was when she said that only a man and a woman should be free to legally wed. The fact that two other former California beauty queens are also featured in the new ads only comes to reinforce this.
The shots feature Moakler surrounded by beauty queens, with tape on their mouth and the words NO H8 (No Hate) scribbled on their cheeks in bright colors. The American flag can be seen in the background, while the girls, although not in their pageant attires, are wearing their tiaras proudly. And posing is not all Moakler does, as she’s also more than willing to speak to the media about her involvement in the latest campaign and about how it’s supposed to at least educate the public about current legislation.
“I believe Prop 8 lead [sic] a campaign of confusion and never made clear what was being asked of the people.” Moakler says for the mag. “I find most people have a problem with the word marriage. What I hope for is helping others understand ‘civil union’ and then one day helping people learn ‘marriage’ is something not God, not the state or country can solidify, but between two people who love each other.” the former beauty queen further explains.
Her and the other girls’ involvement has been nothing short of a surprise, and a very pleasant one while we’re at it. “We never expected to have so many beauty queens participate. The whole campaign, obviously, is not a direct message to Miss California, but now she happened to have put herself in the line of fire. If Carrie is going to go out there with her message, then we have to go out there and make sure the voices of these girls are heard. And that they are what Miss USA should stand for, too.” Adam Bouska of NO H8 tells the media.