When Carrie Prejean spoke against gay marriage during the Miss America Miss USA competition, she said it was the "biblically correct" thing to do. So presumably Miss California found scripture to justify this shirtless picture.

The picture, which leaked today on TheDirty.com (server down at time of writing), has been called a "topless" photo, but that's only true in the Miley Cyrus sense: Prejean's back is to the camera and she's covering her chest with her arms, so it's not exactly an obscene image (as seen at left). In fact, she says she took it when she was 17 and seeking work at modeling agencies.

Nevertheless, the image runs afoul of Miss California Miss America rules, pageant officials believe:

The contract contains a clause asking participants whether they have conducted themselves "in accordance with the highest ethical and moral standards" and if they've ever been photographed nude or partially nude.

Prejean, meanwhile, says the picture is surfacing now as part of a smear campaign against her for opposing gay marriage:

My comments defending traditional marriage have led to intimidation tactics that seek to undermine my reputation and somehow silence me and my beliefs, as if opinion is only a one-way street... these attacks on me and others who speak in defense of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive

Imagine: One person peering into another person's private, bedroom life, to judge them. And without even saying "no offense!"