The now-former Miss California USA denies being derelict in her post-pageant duties, and says she can't understand why Donald Trump fired her.

Carrie Prejean tells the TV show "Access Hollywood" she's been cooperating with pageant officials.

Prejean stirred up a hornet's nest of controversy when she said during the pageant that gays shouldn't be allowed to marry.

Trump and other pageant leaders said Prejean was being sacked not because of her controversial remarks but because she hasn't been holding up her end of the agreement she signed when she entered the pageant.

Prejean tells Access Hollywood she never would have been let go from the pageant if she'd agreed that gays should be allowed to marry.

Pageant officials say Prejean will be replaced by the Miss California pageant's first runner-up, Miss Malibu Tami Farrell.