Ashley, who says she’s a virgin and brought her own bible with her to the interview, made sure to point out that despite her strict Christian beliefs, she has plenty of gay friends.

“A lot of my gay friends tell me, ‘that’s your belief, I still love you,’” she said. “They know how much I love them and they know I still believe in them.”

Beverly Hills Mayor Nancy Kranse recently expressed outrage that Ashley would associate the city of Beverly Hills with anti-gay sentiment and issued a statement saying that the Miss California USA hopeful does not speak for the city when she condemns gay marriage.

With the media maelstrom made of Prejean’s anti-gay marriage comments last year at the Miss USA competition, one would think Ashley would be a bit intimidated to bring those same views to the stage again. But the 6-foot blonde beauty says she’s firm in her beliefs and thinks she and Prejean could hit it off if they ever get to meet.

“I haven’t met Carrie yet but I think we would have a lot to talk about,” she said. “She seems like a nice young lady and I don’t think what happened to her is going to affect the competition this year.”