VIDEO: Carrie Prejean: "God Chose Me," Talks Of "Vicious Storm Of Attacks"

The Miss California USA controversy may be old news, but Carrie Prejean isn’t fading away into the background. On Friday, Prejean - saying God chose her - spoke to a group of 1,700 Christian conservative activists in Washington, at the Family Research Council’s Values Voter Summit.

Prejean said she has been subject to intolerance for her staunch stance against gay marriage, the opinion that kicked off a media firestorm last spring.

"Miss USA wanted me, needed me -- they needed a woman like me," Prejean, 22, said. “And I knew as soon as I didn’t give the PC answer, I knew there was no way I would become Miss USA.”

Prejean said she was subject to a "vicious storm of attacks" after the controversy ensued.

"I feel as if I'm Miss Universe," Prejean said. "God chose me for that moment, because he knew that I would not only stick up for him... but that I am strong enough to get through all of the junk I have been through."

Prejean has written a book about being de-crowned as Miss California. Still Standing: The Untold Story Against Hate, Gossip and Political Attacks will hit bookstores on November 9. Carrie's publisher tells RadarOnline.com that she wrote the book herself, and did not use a ghostwriter.