Miss America 2009 | |
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Date | January 24, 2009 [1] |
Presenters | Mario Lopez |
Venue | Planet Hollywood Performing Arts Center, Paradise, Nevada |
Broadcaster | TLC |
Entrants | 52 |
Placements | 15 |
Winner |
Katie Stam Indiana |
Miss America 2009, the 82nd Miss America pageant, was held on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada on Saturday, January 24, 2009.
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.
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.
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.
Placement | Contestant |
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Miss America 2009 |
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1st Runner-Up |
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2nd Runner-Up |
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3rd Runner-Up |
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4th Runner-Up |
|
Top 7 |
|
Top 10 |
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Top 12 | |
Top 15 |
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* - America's Choice chosen from TLC show, Miss America: Countdown to the Crown
Awards | Contestant |
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Lifestyle and Fitness |
|
Talent |
Results | Contestant | Platform |
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Winner |
|
Uniquely Me: Promoting Self-Esteem in Adolescent Girls |
1st runner-up |
|
- |
2nd runner-up | - | |
Finalists |
|
Various |
Awards | Contestant |
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Miss Congeniality | |
Non-finalist Talent |
|
The seven judges for the competition were: [3]
State | Name | Hometown | Age | Talent | Placement | Awards | Notes |
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Alabama | Amanda Tapley [4] | 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 [5] |
Alaska | Stephany Jeffers [6] | Anchorage | 23 | Vocal | Charles and Theresa Brown Scholarship | ||
Arizona | Erin Nurss [7] | Sierra Vista | 23 | Dance | Non-finalist Talent Award | Sister of
Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2005, Adrienne Nurss
[7] 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 [8] | |
Colorado | Jamie Dukehart-Conti | Arvada | 23 | Jazz Dance | Later was NFL cheerleader for the Denver Broncos | ||
Connecticut | Ashley Glenn [9] | Hamden | 23 | Lyrical Dance | |||
Delaware | Galen Giaccone [10] | 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 [11] | Fort Myers | 20 | Jazz Dance | 4th runner-up | Previously
Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2005
[12] 3rd runner-up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2006 pageant [12] [13] | |
Georgia | Chastity Hardman [14] | Columbus | 24 | Vocal, " Home" from The Wiz | 1st runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | Second African-American to represent Georgia in the Miss America pageant[
citation needed] Received a "Golden Sash" and automatic Top 15 placement at Miss America 2009 pageant on Miss America: Countdown to the Crown [5] |
Hawaii | Nicole Fox [15] | Honolulu | Traditional Hawaiian Dance | Top 10 | Quality of Life Award Finalist | ||
Idaho | Elise Davis [16] | 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 [5] |
Iowa | Olivia Myers [17] | Sperry | 22 | Tap Dance | 2nd runner-up | ||
Kansas | Emily Deaver | Augusta | 19 | Vocal / Piano | |||
Kentucky | Emily Cox [18] | Campbellsville | 22 | Piano | Top 12 | Quality of Life Award Winner [19] | Niece of Miss Kentucky 1990,
Nancy Cox and daughter of
Ricky L. Cox[
citation needed] Contestant at National Sweetheart 2005 pageant |
Louisiana | Blair Abene [20] | Hammond | 22 | Vocal | Previously Miss Teen Louisiana 2002 [21] | ||
Maine | Adrienne Watkinson | Topsham | 23 | Violin | |||
Maryland | Louise Schlegel [22] | Silver Spring | 20 | Vocal | |||
Massachusetts | Alicia Zitka [23] | West Springfield | 22 | Lyrical Dance | Graduate of University of Massachusetts Amherst | ||
Michigan | Ashlee Baracy [24] | 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 [25] | Austin | 24 | Vocal | Performed " The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minnesota[ citation needed] | ||
Mississippi | Christine Kozlowski | D'Iberville | 19 | Jazz Dance | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | ||
Missouri | Lacey Fitzgerald | Kansas City | 24 | Vocal | |||
Montana | Jennifer Hepner [26] | Great Falls | 23 | Belly Dancing | |||
Nebraska | Gretchen Bergquist [27] | Alliance | 24 | Vocal | |||
Nevada | Julianna Erdesz [28] | 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 [29] | Collinsville | 20 | Lyrical Dance | |||
Oregon | Danijela Krstić [30] | Beaverton | 24 | Belly Dance | |||
Pennsylvania | Kendria Perry [31] | Nazareth | 23 | Piano | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
Rhode Island | Francesca Simone | North Smithfield | 23 | Vocal | Quality of Life Award Finalist | ||
South Carolina | Anna Perry [32] | Florence | 23 | Piano | Non-finalist Talent Award | Daughter of Miss South Carolina 1982, Julia Hill [33] | |
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 [5] | |
Tennessee | Ellen Carrington | Jackson | 21 | Classical Vocal | Top 7 | ||
Texas | Rebecca Robinson [34] | Buffalo | 24 | Tap Dance | Miss Congeniality | Previously Miss Texas' Outstanding Teen 2000 [35] | |
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 [36] | 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 [37] | Sheridan | 19 | Comedic Vocal | Previously
Miss Wyoming's Outstanding Teen 2005
[38] Later Miss Wyoming USA 2013 [39] |
Her pageant experience also includes successfully capturing the Miss Teen Louisiana title in 2002.