People who live in Rebekah Revels' hometown of St. Pauls are happy she set the record straight.
"We want her to get on with her life. We love her, still support her and we are glad she stood up," said Sara Hayes, president of the St. Pauls Chamber of Commerce.
The 24-year-old Revels told ABC's "Good Morning America" that her former boyfriend Tosh Welch, now an officer with the Cherokee Police Department, took two pictures of her while she was changing clothes. The photos depicted her nude from the waist up.
Revels broke off an engagement with him about three years ago and according to Revels' friends, he did not take the news very well.
"He used that against me to defame my character," Revels said.
Welch and Revels met at the University of North Carolina of Pembroke. They also worked together at Fullers Barbeque. J.R. Hunt also worked with the couple and he said he cannot believe Welch would ruin Revels' chances at becoming the next Miss America.
"I really didn't think he would do that because he knew that was her lifelong dream," Hunt said.
Restaurant owner Fuller Locklear hired them. His daughter is close friends with Revels and went to New York with her for Monday's interview on Good Morning America.
"I thought he was OK. He certainly fooled me," Locklear said.
WRAL tried to get in touch with Welch a number of times both at home and at work, but he did not return our calls.
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