CARRIE PREJEAN, one of 2009's trio of more-famous runner-ups (with Adam Lambert and Susan Boyle), has been stripped of her Miss California crown by Miss USA pageant boss Donald Trump.

Trump issued a statement yesterday saying Carrie had gotten the boot, not because of her views on gay marriage (she's opposed, in case you've been living under a rock), but because she didn't do the legwork the Miss California job requires.

Trump told TMZ.com that Carrie was a no-show at about 30 events in which she was contractually bound to appear, so now Miss California runner-up Tami Farrell can appear instead.

Trump also told TMZ that Carrie had been canned because she, uh, wasn't nice.

"To me she was the sweetest thing," the Donald said. "Everyone else - she treated like s---."

* One person happy to see Carrie go

is Shanna Moakler, who resigned as Miss California pageant director over L'affaire Prejean.

"First and foremost, my faith has been restored in the Miss Universe Organization and with Donald Trump," Shanna told Usmagazine. com.

Brad and Angelina update

When it comes to Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and other A-list stars, the competition for stories is fierce. Too fierce. Thus we have this Associated Press news from Basel, Switzerland:

Brad Pitt has purchased a painting titled "Etappe" by German artist Neo Rauch.

The David Zwirner Gallery in New York advertised the work as an "enigmatic and dreamlike" representation of a race car being serviced mid-competition. It's listed for about $960,000.

Whoa! A rich guy bought an expensive painting.

* But that's probably better, and cer-

tainly more accurate, than the continuing speculation over the demise of the Brad and Angelina relationship.

Here's a brief recap:

_ May 6: National Enquirer - "Brangie $250 Mil Breakup!"

_ May 18: In Touch - "Jen & Brad Together Again!"

_ June 1: In Touch - "Brad's Intimate Texts to Jen"

_ June 3: National Enquirer - "It's Over! Brangie Split"