Cincy student wins pageant

Miss America 2008 was
hipper and edgier to attract a younger audience.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Miss Michigan Kirsten Haglund, a 19-year-old aspiring Broadway star, was crowned Miss America 2008 on Saturday in a live show billed as the unveiling of the 87-year-old pageant’s new, hipper look.

Haglund, who studies music at the University of Cincinnati, sang “Over the Rainbow” and walked a crowd-pleasing strut in a black and gold bikini to clinch the title. She beat Miss Indiana Nicole Elizabeth Rash, the first runner-up, and Miss Washington Elyse Umemoto, the second runner-up, for the $50,000 scholarship and year of travel that comes with the crown.

Haglund, of Farmington Hills, Mich., grew up in a pageant family. Her mother is an active volunteer, and her grandmother Iora Hunt competed for the crown as Miss Michigan 1944. Hunt joined Haglund at a news conference.

“The only words that come to my mind is that this is a dream come true, not just for me but for my family as well,” Haglund said. “I’m not just standing up here alone.”

Haglund, a cheery, classic blond, wore a revealing silver sequined dress and black bikini during the evening gown and swimsuit portions of the pageant. As her platform issue, she promised to advocate for awareness of eating disorders, an illness from which she has recovered.

The crowning at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip was aired for the first time on TLC. It capped a four-week reality series, “Miss America: Reality Check,” which followed the contestants as they were pushed to shed the dated look of Miss Americas past and adopt a more updated style.

The show was the latest in a series of attempts to find an audience with a younger demographic after more than a decade of declining ratings.

The 52 newly made-over aspiring beauty queens who sought the top tiara sported updated hairdos, sassy attitudes and red carpet-worthy fashion throughout the competition.

Usually tame by modern TV standards, the swimwear competition kicked it up a notch. Most contestants wore black bikinis, and some struck provocative poses and twirled as the audience howled. Contestants also wore blue jeans and added a bit of humor to the traditional opening number, the parade of states.

Haglund’s moves won howls from the audience. “I think for the audience, the swimwear and evening wear was much more entertaining, am I right?” Haglund said when asked about the show’s new look.

The changes included a chance for “Reality Check” viewers to text message votes for their favorite contestant. Miss Utah Jill Stevens, an Army medic who served in Afghanistan, was named “America’s Choice.”

Stevens did not make to the final 10, but she took the disappointment with pluck. She dropped and gave the audience push-ups before joining the other losers on a riser on the side.

Producers added a twist to the interview portion, as well. They asked people on the street to pose questions, and the results were edgier than usual. Contestants were asked about binge drinking, HIV and Britney Spears’ pregnant younger sister, Jamie Lynn.

“No I don’t think she should be fired,” Miss Indiana Nicole Elizabeth Rash said. “They’re still people, they’re still human beings. We all deserve second chances.”

The long-struggling pageant had promised a new look for this year’s beauty battle. “Entertainment Tonight” reporter Mark Steines was the master of ceremonies of the show. Clinton Kelly of TLC’s hit “What Not to Wear” also helped with the hosting duties. Kelly had instructed the girls on how to update their looks during the reality show.