Kristen Dalton’s dream came true last night, when the Wilmington, NC, resident was crowned Miss USA 2009 at the 58th annual Miss USA pageant at Planet Hollywood resort in Las Vegas.
Miss California Carrie Prejean was named first runner-up, while Miss Arizona Alicia-Monique Blanco was second runner-up. Miss Wyoming Cynthia Pate won the Miss Congeniality title, while Miss West Virginia Jessi Pierson was named Miss Photogenic. The top 15 contestants wore bikinis from singer Jessica Simpson’s swimsuit line.
Dalton, 22, made news for winning her new title in a turquoise-blue gown, instead of the traditional white. She will go on to represent the United States in the 2009 Miss Universe Pageant on August 23. Apparently beauty and pageantry runs in her family: Her mom was Miss North Carolina USA 1982 and her sister was Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008.
Judges included "Deal or No Deal" model and star of "The Celebrity Apprentice," Claudia Jordan; "Dancing With the Stars" season-one winner Kelly Monaco; "Saturday Night Live" cast member Kenan Thompson; and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. Hilton threw Prejean, Miss California, a curveball question about gay marriage, which got some in the crowd up in arms.
