Heather Mills was loudly booed as she was introduced as a judge at the Miss USA 2008 Pageant - just days after telling the world: "When I'm in America, it's 99 per cent positive."
It was Heather's first major public appearance since her £25million divorce settlement from Sir Paul McCartney.
And the 40-year-old former model was visibly upset when a section of the audience at the Planet Hollywood Hotel on Las Vegas's famous Strip began jeering on Friday night.
She shook her head as the hecklers mocked her during a live broadcast of the beauty pageant, hosted by Donny and Marie Osmond.
The booing came just days after Heather appeared on GMTV boasting about her popularity Stateside.
But the jeering - which could be heard throughout the auditorium - sent a clear message that Americans have been unwilling to forgive her behaviour during, and after, her divorce.
Afterwards she put on a brave face. Talking to the Sunday Mirror, she said: "I really enjoyed myself. It was a great contest.
"If there was some negative reaction, what can you do? There will always be people like that."
She was then dragged away by her bodyguard.
Heather headed to the Miss USA after-party in the VIP lounge of Planet Hollywood's nightclub and was later spotted in its Japanese restaurant Koi. But by midnight she was back in bed.
A spokesman for Miss USA said of the booing: "We do not have a comment. We were pleased to have Heather participate on our panel." During the live broadcast Heather managed to ignore the jeering and talk about how she had once taken part in a beauty contest.
Advertisement - article continues below »
She told the audience: "Twentyfive years ago I did one of these competitions.
"It's a lot of work and people don't understand that.
"It is a really difficult job to work, to be out there and to be brave enough to stand in front of all these people."
Last week Heather was interviewed on GMTV by Fiona Phillips who asked about her public image.
She said: "Well, you know, it's crazy, as any sort of high-profile person that gets in this situation knows.
"But, when I'm in America, it's ninety-nine per cent positive.
"They're very much, you know, you overcome adversity, you get on with it.
"I get a huge amount of support from the public and a lot of people are very behind David versus Goliath sort of situations where you're fighting the Establishment.""
The winner of the Miss USA title was 26-year-old Crystle Stewart, of Missouri City, Texas.
When she's not strutting around in a tiny bikini - or on modelling assignments - she runs a partyplanning and motivational speaking company. She said she wants to dedicate her life to "international philanthropy" and to spread her message of self-improvement to young women - which makes a change from looking after children and campaigning for world peace.
The judging panel also included comedian Rob Schneider and US Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard.
