Miss America 2009 Contestants - Page 2

On January 24, 2009, the Miss America 2009 Beauty Contest will takes place at Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The reigning Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund of Farmington Hills, Michigan will crown her successor. The Pageant will be broadcasted live on TLC from the Theatre for the Performing Arts at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino and hosted by Mario Lopez.

All 51 delegates will compete 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 televised competition, the delegates will participate in three nights of preliminary competition, where the preliminary awards will be given to the winners in each category.

During the final telecast, following the announcement of the semi-finalists, the top ten compete in swimsuit and evening gown competitions. Then, the top five go on to compete in the talent competition, and the top three face a final interview round.

Meet the 51 Official Candidates:

Miss Kentucky Hometown: Campbellsville Emily Cox, 22 Talent: Piano (Her Aunt is Nancy Jane Cox, Miss Kentucky 1990 (Both won same local title, Miss Bowling Green) before winning state title)	Miss Louisiana Hometown: Hammond Blair Abene, 22 Talent: Vocal (Miss Teen Louisiana 2002)
Miss Maine Hometown: Topsham Adrienne Watkinson, 23 Talent: Violin	Miss Maryland Hometown: Silver Spring, 20 Talent: Vocal (Studying at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County)
Miss Massachusetts Hometown: West Springfield Alicia Zitka, 22 Talent: Lyrical Dance (Graduate of University of Massachusetts Amherst and also won a national online K-mart Style competition)	Miss Michigan Hometown: Westland Ashlee Baracy, 23 Talent: Lyrical Dance (Miss Junior Michigan 2003 and also Danced with Mario Lopez trom "Dancing with the Stars")
Miss Minnesota Hometown: Austin Angela McDermott, 24 Talent: Vocal (Performed the National Anthem at the Opening of the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minnesota)	Miss Mississippi Hometown: D'Iberville Christine Kozlowski, 19 Talent: Jazz Dance
Miss Missouri Hometown: Kansas City Lacey Fitzgerald, 24 Talent: Vocal	Miss Montana Hometown: Great Falls Jennifer Hepner, 23 Talent: Belly Dancing
Miss Nebraska Hometown: Alliance Gretchen Bergquist, 24 Talent: Vocal	Miss Nevada Hometown: Reno Julianna Erdesz, 24 Talent: Vocal
Miss New Hampshire Hometown: Hooksett Natalie Shaw, 23 Talent: Vocal	Miss New Jersey Hometown: Egg Harbour Township Ashley Fairfield, 22 Talent: Jazz Dance
Miss New Mexico Hometown: Albuquerque Christina Olmi, 23 Talent: Vocal	Miss New York Hometown: New York City Leigh-Taylor Smith, 22 Talent: Vocal
Miss North Carolina Hometown: Raleigh Amanda Watson, 21 Talent: Vocal (Miss Garner 2008, Miss ANTSO 2005 Sweetheart Division)

Official Candidates:   Page 1   Page 3
Preliminary Awards:   January 20   January 21   January 22
Winners:   Top 15   Top 12   Top 10   Top 7   Crowning