VISTA -- Vista High School graduate Carrie Prejean, the first-runner up in Sunday's Miss USA Pageant, is getting national attention for her answer to a question about gay marriage that some say may have cost her the pageant crown.

The uproar centers on Prejean's response to a question about same-sex marriage posed at the pageant by celebrity gossip blogger and gay-rights activist Perez Hilton, one of the judges.

Hilton asked Prejean, competing as Miss California, whether she supports efforts to legalize same-sex marriage. The former North County resident, who attends a Christian college in San Diego, stumbled before giving an answer that appeared to garner a mixed reaction from the pageant audience.

"We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage," Prejean said. "And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

Some in the audience cheered, others booed.

Locally, students at Prejean's alma mater said they think she was getting unfairly criticized.

"She's being punished for telling the truth," said Blake McGinness, a senior at the school.

She graduated from Vista High School in 2005.

Teachers there said she was very active at the campus and was president of the Associated Student Body and was also a member of the Christian club and a varsity basketball player.

"She was a strong woman who had principles and direction in her life," said Debbie Edmund, who was the Associated Student Body director when Prejean was there. "As a leader, she attempted to bring cohesiveness and character to the student body."

Barbara Marks, an art teacher at the school, said she thinks the controversy surrounding Prejean's answer is unfortunate.

"It's too bad that she has received flak for just expressing her personal views," she said. "Everyone should have the right to express their personal views."

In interviews after Sunday's pageant, Hilton was asked whether Prejean's answer hurt her in the pageant. "Absolutely," he said, adding that he thought some of the judges were as unhappy with her response as he was.

In a video blog posted on his Web site Sunday night, Hilton called Prejean "a dumb b--." He later apologized, offering to take Prejean out for coffee.

Prejean and Hilton appeared on the "Today Show" on Tuesday morning to talk about the controversy.

Prejean said she did not regret answering the question truthfully, even if it cost her the title. She said she believes God has a plan for her that's more important than wearing the crown.

Miss North Carolina USA Kristen Dalton was this year's pageant winner, beating out 50 other beauty queens in event that was televised from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

The contest, which is owned by NBC and reality TV mogul Donald Trump, was hosted by "Access Hollywood" co-anchor Billy Bush and Nadine Velazquez of the NBC sitcom "My Name is Earl." This year's judges included "Saturday Night Live" cast member Kenan Thompson, "Dancing with the Stars" winner Kelly Monaco and Hilton.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report