Miss America 2009

Miss America 2009, the 82nd Miss America pageant, was held on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada on Saturday, January 24, 2009.[2] The winner was Katie Stam from Indiana, the first woman representing that state to take the crown.[3]

Miss America 2009
Date	January 24, 2009[1]
Presenters	Mario Lopez
Venue	Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts|Performing Arts Center, Paradise, Nevada
Broadcaster	TLC
Entrants	52
Placements	15
Winner	Katie Stam Indiana

The pageant was broadcast live on TLC from the Theatre for the Performing Arts at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, only the fourth time that the pageant has been held outside Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Selection of contestants

One delegate from each state was chosen in state pageants held in mid-2008. Prior to competing in state pageants, the majority of delegates first were required to win a local title. Each delegates title is pre-dated to 2008, for example Amanda Tapley is "Miss Alabama 2008" rather than "Miss Alabama 2009".

Many contestants competed in state pageants in both the Miss America and Miss USA systems numerous times before winning titles, and some had previously in other states to those which they won their state title.

All contestants were required to be between the ages of 17-24, unmarried and a citizen of the United States. They were also required to meet residency and education requirements.

Competitions

All delegates competed in an interview competition with the judges, based on their platform issue, and also in the swimsuit, evening gown and talent competitions.

Prior to the nationally televised competition, the delegates participated in three nights of preliminary competition, where preliminary award winners were chosen in each category.

During the final telecast, following the announcement of the semi-finalists, the top fifteen competed in swimsuit competition. The top twelve competed in evening gown competition. The top ten went on to compete in the talent competition, and the top seven each faced a random question from an American viewer.

Results

Placements

Final results	Contestant
Miss America 2009	Indiana - Katie Stam*
1st runner-up	Georgia - Chastity Hardman*
2nd runner-up	Iowa - Olivia Myers
3rd runner-up	New York - Leigh-Taylor Smith
4th runner-up	Florida - Sierra Minott
Top 7	California - Jackie Geist Tennessee - Ellen Carrington
Top 10	District of Columbia - Kate Grinold Hawaii - Nicole Fox Michigan - Ashlee Baracy
Top 12	Arkansas - Ashlen Batson Kentucky - Emily Cox
Top 15	Alabama - Amanda Tapley* Delaware - Galen Giaccone South Dakota - Alexandra Hoffman*

* - America's Choice chosen from TLC show, Miss America: Countdown to the Crown

Preliminary awards

Awards	Contestant
Lifestyle and Fitness	Indiana - Katie Stam Mississippi - Christine Kozlowski New York - Leigh-Taylor Smith
Talent	Delaware - Galen Giaccone Georgia - Chastity Hardman Vermont - Ashley Wheeler

Quality of Life award

Results	Contestant	Platform
Winner	Kentucky - Emily Cox	Uniquely Me: Promoting Self-Esteem in Adolescent Girls
1st runner-up	Michigan - Ashlee Baracy	-
2nd runner-up	Alabama - Amanda Tapley	-
Finalists	Hawaii - Nicole Fox Indiana - Katie Stam North Carolina - Amanda Watson Rhode Island - Francesca Simone Virginia - Tara Wheeler	Various

Other awards

Awards	Contestant
Miss Congeniality	Texas - Rebecca Robinson[4]
Non-finalist Talent	Arizona - Erin Nurss Pennsylvania - Kendria Perry South Carolina - Anna Perry Utah - Kayla Barclay Vermont - Ashley Wheeler

Judges

The seven judges for the competition were:[5]

• former model, Paige Adams-Geller
• actress and singer, Laura Bell Bundy
• Miss America 1999, Nicole Johnson
• Olympic swimmer, Cullen Jones
• casting director, Beth Klein
• hairstylist, Ken Pavés

Delegates

State	Name	Hometown	Age	Talent	Placement	Awards	Notes
Alabama	Amanda Tapley[6]	Birmingham	20	Classical Piano	Top 15	Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up	Received a "Golden Sash" and automatic Top 15 placement at Miss America 2009 pageant on Miss America: Countdown to the Crown[7]
Alaska	Stephany Jeffers[8]	Anchorage	23	Vocal		Charles and Theresa Brown Scholarship
Arizona	Erin Nurss[9]	Sierra Vista	23	Dance		Non-finalist Talent Award	Sister of Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2005, Adrienne Nurss[9] Contestant at National Sweetheart 2007 pageant
Arkansas	Ashlen Batson	Newark	21	Flute	Top 12
California	Jackie Geist	Vacaville	22	Ballet	Top 7		1st runner-up at Miss California Teen USA 2002 pageant Previously Miss Teen of the Nation 2004 3rd runner-up at Miss Teenage California 2004 pageant[10]
Colorado	Jamie Dukehart-Conti	Arvada	23	Jazz Dance			Later was NFL cheerleader for the Denver Broncos
Connecticut	Ashley Glenn[11]	Hamden	23	Lyrical Dance
Delaware	Galen Giaccone[12]	Wyoming	20	Piano	Top 15	Preliminary Talent Award	Previously Delaware's Junior Miss 2006
District of Columbia	Kate Marie Grinold	Washington, D.C.	22	Ballet	Top 10
Florida	Sierra Minott[13]	Fort Myers	20	Jazz Dance	4th runner-up		Previously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2005[14] 3rd runner-up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2006 pageant[14][15]
Georgia	Chastity Hardman[16]	Columbus	24	Vocal, "Home" from The Wiz	1st runner-up	Preliminary Talent Award	Second African-American to represent Georgia in the Miss America pageant Received a "Golden Sash" and automatic Top 15 placement at Miss America 2009 pageant on Miss America: Countdown to the Crown[7]
Hawaii	Nicole Fox[17]	Honolulu		Traditional Hawaiian Dance	Top 10	Quality of Life Award Finalist
Idaho	Elise Davis[18]	Idaho Falls	20	Vocal
Illinois	Katie Lorenz	Plymouth, MI	24	Lyrical Dance
Indiana	Katie Stam	Seymour	21	Vocal	Miss America 2009	Preliminary Swimsuit Award Quality of Life Award Finalist	Previously Miss Kentuckiana Teen 2002 Previously Indiana's Junior Miss 2005 2nd runner-up at America's Junior Miss 2005 pageant Received a "Golden Sash" and automatic Top 15 placement at Miss America 2009 pageant on Miss America: Countdown to the Crown[7]
Iowa	Olivia Myers[19]	Sperry	22	Tap Dance	2nd runner-up
Kansas	Emily Deaver	Augusta	19	Vocal / Piano
Kentucky	Emily Cox[20]	Campbellsville	22	Piano	Top 12	Quality of Life Award Winner[21]	Niece of Miss Kentucky 1990, Nancy Cox and daughter of Ricky Lee Cox Contestant at National Sweetheart 2005 pageant
Louisiana	Blair Abene[22]	Hammond	22	Vocal			Previously Miss Teen Louisiana 2002[23]
Maine	Adrienne Watkinson	Topsham	23	Violin
Maryland	Louise Schlegel[24]	Silver Spring	20	Vocal
Massachusetts	Alicia Zitka[25]	West Springfield	22	Lyrical Dance			Graduate of University of Massachusetts Amherst
Michigan	Ashlee Baracy[26]	Westland	23	Jazz Dance	Top 10	Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up	Previously Michigan's Junior Miss 2003 1st runner-up at National Sweetheart 2007 pageant
Minnesota	Angela McDermott[27]	Austin	24	Vocal			Performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minnesota
Mississippi	Christine Kozlowski	D'Iberville	19	Jazz Dance		Preliminary Swimsuit Award
Missouri	Lacey Fitzgerald	Kansas City	24	Vocal
Montana	Jennifer Hepner[28]	Great Falls	23	Belly Dancing
Nebraska	Gretchen Bergquist[29]	Alliance	24	Vocal
Nevada	Julianna Erdesz[30]	Reno	24	Vocal			Later Miss Nevada USA 2010
New Hampshire	Natalie C. Shaw	Hooksett	23	Vocal
New Jersey	Ashley Fairfield	Egg Harbor Township	22	Jazz Dance
New Mexico	Christina Olmi	Albuquerque	23	Vocal
New York	Leigh-Taylor Smith	New York City	22	Vocal	3rd runner-up	Preliminary Swimsuit Award
North Carolina	Amanda Watson	Raleigh	21	Vocal		Quality of Life Award Finalist
North Dakota	Tessie Jones	West Fargo	21	Piano
Ohio	Karissa Renee Martin	Woodsfield	21	Vocal
Oklahoma	Kelsey Cartwright[31]	Collinsville	20	Lyrical Dance
Oregon	Danijela Krstić[32]	Beaverton	24	Belly Dance
Pennsylvania	Kendria Perry[33]	Nazareth	23	Piano		Non-finalist Talent Award
Rhode Island	Francesca Simone	North Smithfield	23	Vocal		Quality of Life Award Finalist
South Carolina	Anna Perry[34]	Florence	23	Piano		Non-finalist Talent Award	Daughter of Miss South Carolina 1982, Julia Hill[35]
South Dakota	Alexandra Hoffman	Eureka	20	Vocal	Top 15		Sister of Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2008, Elizabeth Hoffman Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2006 Received a "Golden Sash" and automatic Top 15 placement at Miss America 2009 pageant on Miss America: Countdown to the Crown[7]
Tennessee	Ellen Carrington	Jackson	21	Classical Vocal	Top 7
Texas	Rebecca Robinson[36]	Buffalo	24	Tap Dance		Miss Congeniality	Previously Miss Texas' Outstanding Teen 2000[37]
Utah	Kayla Barclay	Manti	18	Piano		Non-finalist Talent Award
Vermont	Ashley Ruth Wheeler	Lyndonville	21	Vocal		Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Talent Award
Virgin Islands	Shamika K. Thomas	Saint Thomas	23	Vocal
Virginia	Tara Wheeler[38]	Woodbridge	24	Vocal		Quality of Life Award Finalist
Washington	Janet Harding	Yelm	21	Piano
West Virginia	Kayla Lynam	Short Gap	21	Piano
Wisconsin	Briana Lipor	Racine	22	Vocal
Wyoming	Courtney Gifford[39]	Sheridan	19	Comedic Vocal			Previously Miss Wyoming's Outstanding Teen 2005[40] Later Miss Wyoming USA 2013[41]

References

1. Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino to host 2009 Miss America Live! on TLC Archived 2008-09-17 at the Wayback Machine
2. "Miss America 2009 - Pageant Planet". www.pageantplanet.com. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
3. "Katie Stam". www.pageantplanet.com. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
4. "2009 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS". Miss America Organization. Archived from the original on September 29, 2010. Retrieved July 25, 2010.
5. "Miss America: Press Releases: Miss America Puts the Spotlight on 2009 National Judges". Miss America Organization. December 1, 2008. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
6. Nunnelley, William (June 8, 2008). "Miss Samford Amanda Tapley Named Miss Alabama". Samford University.
7. "Born to wear the crown". University of Indianapolis-Reflector. February 4, 2009. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
8. Hancock, Abby (January 13, 2009). "Miss AK prepares for national stage". The Northern Light.
9. Ruiz-McGill, Rebecca (June 24, 2008). "UA Graduate Student Crowned Miss Arizona". UA News.
10. "Making her way to the top". WQAD. 2008-07-04. Archived from the original on 2009-01-31. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
11. "Miss Connecticut crowned; Ridgefield woman first runner-up". NewsTimes. June 29, 2008.
12. "U of D student crowned Miss Delaware". WDel. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20.
13. "Have We Lost the Battle for TALENT at Miss America?". Pageant Junkies. September 30, 2014.
14. Abel, Fred. "A Thunderous Teen Success". Pageantry Magazine.
15. "Sierra Minott Interview". Pageant Interviews.
16. "Columbus music student is second African-American Miss Georgia". Access WDUN. June 29, 2008.
17. https://tv.yahoo.com/show/44013/photos/13#goto_13
18. Associated Press (June 16, 2008). "Idaho Falls woman wins Miss Idaho pageant". Local News 8. Archived from the original on 2008-10-03.
19. "Miss Burlington becomes Miss Iowa 2008". WQAD. June 15, 2008.
20. "UK Graduate Wins Miss Kentucky Pageant". Lexington Herald-Leader. July 20, 2008.
21. Leach, Robin (January 22, 2009). "Miss Kentucky Emily Cox wins Quality of Life Award and $6,000 scholarship". Las Vegas Sun.
22. "Blair Abene Crowned Miss Louisiana". KTBS News. June 23, 2008.
23. Chapple, Christina (June 6, 2006). "June 7 "good luck send off" planned for Miss Southeastern". Southeastern Louisiana University. Her pageant experience also includes successfully capturing the Miss Teen Louisiana title in 2002.
24. "Winner hopes to launch film career". Baltimore Sun. Timothy E. Ryan. 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
25. "West Springfield woman crowned Miss Massachusetts". Wicked Local. June 29, 2008.
26. Marla Miller (June 22, 2008). "Westland woman named 2008 Miss Michigan". Muskegon Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2009-02-12.
27. Ruzek, Tim (June 16, 2008). "Austin native wins Miss Minnesota pageant". Post-Bulletin. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009.
28. Cates, Kristen (June 16, 2008). "Great Falls woman wins elusive title". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
29. Wetzel, Dianne (June 8, 2008). "It's Miss Panhandle!". North Platte Telegraph.
30. "Miss Carson City named Miss Nevada, Keegan runner-up". The Record Courier. July 22, 2008.
31. Associated Press (June 8, 2008). "Collinsville woman captures "Miss Oklahoma" title". KTEN.
32. Litvin, Katie (July 23, 2008). "Bosnian beauty wins Miss Oregon crown". Portland Tribune. Portland, OR: Pamplin Media Group.
33. Associated Press (July 13, 2008). "Pittsburgh woman wins Miss Pennsylvania title". Reading Eagle. p. 11.
34. "Anna Perry wins Miss South Carolina pageant". TheTandD.com. July 6, 2008.
35. "Winners say they're ready". GoUpstate.com. July 7, 2008.
36. "Another Aggie, Miss Longview, Crowned Miss Texas". KBTX News. July 6, 2008.
37. "Miss Texas's Outstanding Teen Alumnae". Miss Texas Organization.
38. Evans, Colleen (June 30, 2008). "Miss Arlington is Miss Virginia". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
39. "Miss America 2009 Delegates". GeoCities.
40. "Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2005 Delegates". GeoCities.
41. Scott, Brian (September 24, 2012). "Miss Wyoming and Miss Wyoming Teen Crowned". K2 Radio.

External links

• Miss America official website