Las Vegas Sun

April 25, 2024

Miss America 2009

  • Blog: Culture and Entertainment

    Live blog: Miss Indiana takes crown

    January 24, 2009 (7:13 p.m.)

    By John Katsilometes

    Hoosier Miss America? Miss Indiana. Katie R. Stam, has just been announced as the 82nd Miss America at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts. Miss Georgia Chasity Hardman, was first runner-up.

  • Miss Michigan Kirsten Haglund reacts as she is crowned Miss America 2008 by Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson during the Miss America Live! pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 26, 2008.

    Despite changes, Miss America pageant still reigns

    January 24, 2009

    By John Katsilometes

    Memories of Bert Parks warbling, “There She Is, Miss America” might have faded, and the newly crowned Miss America now takes her first steps in her new sash and tiara on the Strip, but the tradition of Miss America remains powerful in the culture of beauty pageants. Tonight, a new Miss America — the 82nd — will be crowned at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts.

  • Blog: Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch

    Miss Nevada overcame struggle to achieve pageant success

    January 21, 2009 (10:59 a.m.)

    By Robin Leach

    As one of the four oldest contestants in this year’s Miss America Pageant, 24-year-old Miss Nevada Julianna Erdesz knows this will probably be her last shot at the big win because of her age.

  • Video

    Getting to Know Miss Nevada

    Getting to Know Miss Nevada

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    Miss Nevada Julianna Erdesz opens up about her life. The 24-year-old crown holder explains why she wants to be the first Miss America to ever come from the Silver State.

  • All 52 Miss America contestants visit Pole Position Raceway in Las Vegas Sunday night.

    Beauty queens don helmets, not crowns for go-kart race

    January 19, 2009

    By Cydney Cappello

    Racing down the track at a roaring 25 mph, 52 contestants in the Miss America pageant took a break from rehearsals Sunday to release some competitive energy at the Pole Position Raceway, 4175 S. Arville St., in Las Vegas.

  • Photogallery

    Miss America Race

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    All 52 Miss America contestants visit Pole Position Raceway in Las Vegas Sunday night.

  • Blog: Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch

    Miss America discusses battle with anorexia, offers pageant tips

    January 14, 2009 (5:11 p.m.)

    By Robin Leach

    For 20-year-old Kirsten Haglund, this trip to Las Vegas means she will turn over her tiara and present it to the young lady who will step into her high-heeled shoes.

  • Miss Wisconsin Christina Thompson, left, and Miss Utah Jill Stevens do push-ups after Stevens was eliminated Saturday during the Miss America Live! pageant at Planet Hollywood. Stevens, an Army medic who has served in Afghanistan, often did push-ups during a four-week reality series, “Miss America: Reality Check.”

    America, the beautiful

    January 28, 2008

    By Joe Brown

    On this Saturday night, Miss America exudes an air of desperation. In an age of show-all and tell-all TV reality shows and runway competitions, the 87-year-old pageant is in a life-or-death struggle for eyeballs and relevance.