(Thank you and credits to JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Miss USA 2009 live from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Las Vegas on April 19, 2009 t 7:00 p.m. ET/PT live from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The hosts of the Miss USA 2009 pageant will be Billy Bush of Access Hollywood and Nadine Velazquez from “My Name Is Earl.” - Miss North Carolina USA Kristen Dalton is the winner of Miss USA 2009. Kristen Dalton will represent the United States in Miss Universe 2009.

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Special Awards:

Miss Congeniality: Cynthia Pate, Miss Wyoming
Miss Photogenic: Jessi Pierson, Miss West Virginia

The awards were presented by Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe. Congratulations to the winners.

Final results:

Miss USA 2009 - North Carolina - Kristen Dalton

1st runner-up - California - Carrie Prejean

2nd runner-up - Arizona - Alicia Blanco

3rd runner-up - Laura Chukanov

4th runner-up - Maria Montgomery

Top 10

Arkansas - Chanley Painter
South Carolina - Stephanie Smith
Tennessee - Kristen Motil
Texas - Brooke Daniels
West Virginia - Jessi Pierson

Top 15

Connecticut - Monica Pietrzak
Georgia - Kimberly Gittings
Idaho - Melissa Weber
Minnesota - Erica Nego
Virginia - Maegan Phillips

Swimsuit Competition Results

1. North Carolina 9.198
2. California 9.033
3. Arizona 9.092
4. Kentucky 8.963
5. Utah 8.851
6. Arkansas 8.704
7. Texas 8.548
8. West Virginia 8.475
9. Tennessee 8.442
10. South Carolina 8.402
11. Virginia 8.199
12. Minnesota 8.150
13. Georgia 7.946
14. Idaho 7.800
15. Connecticut 7.797

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Kristen Jeannine Dalton from Wilmington, North Carolina is Miss USA 2009

Kristen Dalton will represent the United States in Miss Universe
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, Associated Press Writer Kathleen Hennessey, Associated Press Writer.


(Thank you and credits to AP Photo/Eric Jamison)

LAS VEGAS – Miss North Carolina USA Kristen Dalton was crowned Miss USA 2009 on Saturday, beating out 50 other beauty queens in the live pageant televised from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

The 21-year-old aspiring motivational speaker from Wilmington edged out first runner-up Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, of San Diego, and second runner-up Miss Arizona USA Alicia-Monique Blanco, of Phoenix.

Contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia competed in the pageant, aired live on NBC. Contestants were judged by their performance in swimsuit and evening gown modeling contests and their responses to a question asked onstage; unlike the rival Miss America pageant, Miss USA contestants do not perform a talent.

The top 15 contestants worked the stage in white string bikinis designed by pop star Jessica Simpson's swimwear line. Rocker Kevin Rudolf performed his song "Let it Rock," followed by The Veronicas, who performed their single "Untouched" as the top 10 beauties showed off their choice of glittering evening gowns.

Dalton's title comes with a year's use of a New York apartment, a public relations team, a two-year scholarship at the New York Film Academy and an undisclosed salary.

She also will go to the Bahamas in August to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, where American beauties haven't been lucky in recent years. Both Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart and her predecessor, Rachel Smith, wiped out on stage during the evening gown competition, becoming accidental YouTube stars.

Asked about the tumble during the show on Sunday, Stewart said it was a lesson in bouncing back from defeat.

"I think it was a true test of my character," said the 27-year-old Texan, who worked to raise awareness for breast cancer as she traveled the globe promoting the beauty contest.

If there is a YouTube moment from Sunday's show, it may be Miss California's answer to a question about legalizing same-sex marriage. The tall blonde stumbled some before giving an answer that appeared to please the pageant audience.

"We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage," Prejean said. "And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

The pageant had enjoyed a scandal-free year until earlier this month, when Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza was skewered for a blog posting from a trip to Guantanamo Bay. The entry described having "aloooot of fun" at a base that houses the notorious military prison; it was later deleted from the pageant's Web site.

The contest, which is owned by NBC and reality TV mogul Donald Trump, was hosted by "Access Hollywood" co-anchor Billy Bush and Nadine Velazquez of the NBC sitcom "My Name is Earl." This year's judges included "Saturday Night Live" cast member Kenan Thompson, "Dancing with the Stars" winner Kelly Monaco and gossip blogger Perez Hilton.

Miss Wyoming USA Cynthia Pate, of Casper, Wyo., was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants. Jessi Pierson, of Milton, W.Va., was voted Miss Photogenic through an online contest on the Miss Universe Web site.

Organizers said Sunday's show kicks off "Green Week" at NBC. As part of the environmental awareness campaign, the Miss USA crown was designed by a jeweler that specializes in conflict-free and eco-friendly jewels. The crown from Diamond Nexus Labs of Franklin, Wis., is worth $202,000.

Miss USA 2009, the 58th Miss USA pageant is held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19, 2009. The winner will be crowned by outgoing titleholder Miss USA 2008, Crystle Stewart of Texas.

Preliminary Judges

Cara Petry
Chip Lightman
Lori Levine
Nick Light
Randall Winston
Rich Thurber
Seth Mayeri

Telecast Judges

Alicia Jacobs - Access Hollywood & KVBC News Ent.
Brian Graden - MTV Networks Music Channel
Claudia Jordan - Deal or No Deal Celeb. Apprentice, Miss Rhode Island USA 1997
Eric Trump - Trump Organization
Holly Madison - American model, Television personality
John Miller - NBC Universal
Kelly Monaco - Dancing with the Stars winner
Kenan Thompson - Saturday Night Live
Perez Hilton - Celebrity gossip
Robert Earl - CEO of Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Shandi Finnessey - Miss USA 2004
Shelley Hennig - Days of our Lives actress, Miss Teen USA 2004
Willie Geist - "Morning Joe" of MSNBC


The event will be hosted by Billy Bush of Access Hollywood and actress Nadine Velazquez; Bush is returning to host the pageant which he last emceed in 2005. He had previously co-hosted Miss USA 2003 with Daisy Fuentes and Miss USA 2004-2005 with Nancy O'Dell. Entertainment will be provided by Kevin Rudolf who will be performing "Let It Rock" during the swimsuit competition and The Veronicas will perform "Untouched" during the evening gown competition.

Delegates representing the fifty states plus the District of Columbia will compete in the pageant, and will arrive in Las Vegas on April 2, 2009. The winner will represent the United States at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant.

Miss USA Contestants Pictures and Profile/Biodata

Country, Contestants, Hometown, Age, Height:

Alabama
Rachel Philippona
Dothan
19

Miss Arizona
Alicia-Monique
Blanco Phoenix
21

Chanley Painter
Miss Arkansas
Conway
24

Jessica Irene Nolin
Miss Alaska
22

Carrie Prejean
Miss California
San Diego
21

Patrice Williams,
Miss Colorado
Colorado Springs
22
'7"

Monica Mary Pietrzak
Miss Connecticut
Manchester
25
5'11"

Kate Banaszak
Miss Delaware
Middletown
24

Nicole White
Miss District Of Columbia
Washington, DC
20
5'8" P
Previously Miss District of Columbia Teen USA 2004

Anastagia Pierre
Miss Florida
Plantation
20
5'9"
Previously Miss Florida Teen USA 2004

Kimberly Gittings
Miss Georgia
Lilburn
20

Aureana Tseu
Miss Hawaii
Mililani
25
5'7"
Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 1999

Melissa Weber
Miss Idaho
Eagle
26

Ashley Bond
Miss Illinois
Oswego
24

Courtni Hall
Miss Indiana
Crawfordsville
21
5'3"
Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 2004

Chelsea Lynn Gauger
Miss Iowa
Ankeny
19

Courtney Courter
Miss Kansas
Olathe
23
5'9"

Maria Elizabeth Montgomery
Miss Kentucky
Danville
19

Lacey Minchew
Miss Louisiana
Baton Rouge
24
5'7"
Previously Miss Teen America 2002, representing Georgia

Ashley T. Underwood,
Miss Maine
Benton
23

Gabrielle Carlson
Miss Maryland
Marion Station
24

Alison Michele Cronin
Miss Massachusetts
East Weymouth
21
Previously Miss Massachusetts Teen USA 2005

Lindsey Tycholiz
Miss Michigan
Sterling Heights
26

Erica Nego
Miss Minnesota
Plymouth
21

Jessica Lauren McRaney
Miss Mississippi
Terry
23
Previously Miss Mississippi Teen USA 2004

Stacey Smith
Miss Missouri
Florissant
22
5'9"

Misti Vogt
Miss Montana
Kalispell
22
5'11"

Meagan Winings
Miss Nebraska
Atkinson
22
Previously Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2004 and Top 10 Finalist at Miss Teen USA 2004.

Georgina Vaughan
Miss Nevada
Las Vegas
21
5'10"
Previously Miss Nevada Teen USA 2006

Christy Lynn Dunn
Miss New Hampshire
Laconia
25

Kaity Bettina Rodriquez
Miss New Jersey
Clifton
24

Bianca Matamoros-Koonce
Miss New Mexico
Albuquerque
22

Tracey Chang
Miss New York
New York
25
5'7"

Kristen Dalton
Miss North Carolina
21
5'7"
Sister of Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008, Daughter of Miss North Carolina USA 1982, 1st runner up at Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2005

Kelsey Erickson
Miss North Dakota
Grand Forks
22

Natasha Aristea Vivoda
Miss Ohio
Youngstown
22

Lauren Lunday
Miss Oklahoma
Altus
25

Sylvie Tarpinian,
Miss Oregon
Eugene
24

Lindsey Nelsen
Miss Pennsylvania
Stewartstown
21
5'7"

Alysha Castonguay
Miss Rhode Island
Woonsocket
21
5'6"
Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2002 and Top 10 Semifinalist at Miss Teen USA 2002. Miss Teen America 2003 and Miss Teen Galaxy 2005

Stephanie Smith
Miss South Carolina
Goose Creek
21
5'7"

Jessica Rowell
Miss South Dakota
Sioux Falls
22
5'7"

Kristen Motil
Miss Tennessee
Williamson
24
5'9"

Brooke Daniels
Miss Texas
Tomball
22
5'8"

Laura Kirilova Chukanov
Miss Utah
Sandy
22
5'10"

Brooke Werner
Miss Vermont
Granville
21

Maegan Elizabeth Phillips
Miss Virginia
Quantico
21

Tara Turnure
Miss Washington
Seattle
22

Jessi Pierson,
Miss West Virginia
21

Alexandra Wehrley
Miss Wisconsin
Pewaukee
21

Cynthia Pate
Miss Wyoming
Casper
22

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Former Miss Teen USA state titleholders

Nine former Miss Teen USA state titleholders will compete at Miss USA 2009, the highest since 2007 and the second highest since 2003. For the first time five of the former teens competed at the same pageant, Miss Teen USA 2004. Aureana Tseu will become the first former Teen to represent her state at Miss USA ten years after competing at Miss Teen USA. This is also the first year that a Miss Teen USA 2006 contestant will compete at Miss USA.

Nebraska crowned one of their former Teen USA state titleholders for the first time, and Florida crowned only their second. In Rhode Island, consecutive Teen titleholders (Amy Diaz and Alysha Castonguay) won consecutive Miss titles, the first time this has occurred in the history of the two pageants.

The former teens competing at this Miss USA pageant are:
* Aureana Tseu (Hawaii) - Miss Hawaii Teen USA 1999
* Alysha Castonguay (Rhode Island) - Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2002 (top 10 at Miss Teen USA 2002)
* Nicole White (District of Columbia) - Miss District of Columbia Teen USA 2004
* Anastagia Pierre (Florida) - Miss Florida Teen USA 2004
* Courtni Hall (Indiana) - Miss Indiana Teen USA 2004
* Jessica McRaney (Mississippi) - Miss Mississippi Teen USA 2004
* Meagan Winings (Nebraska) - Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2004 (top 10 at Miss Teen USA 2004)
* Alison Cronin (Massachusetts) - Miss Massachusetts Teen USA 2005
* Georgina Vaughan (Nevada) - Miss Nevada Teen USA 2006

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(Thank you and credits to http://www.globalbeauties.com, http://en.wikipedia.org, http://www.seattlepi.com and all sources for the information and picture)