January 27, 2008
by John Bach
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| UC CCM student Kirsten Haglund is Miss America 2008. |
The University of Cincinnati may just be the cradle of beauty queens.
For the second time in eight years, a Bearcat has claimed the title of Miss America. UC College-Conservatory of Music student Kirsten Haglund won the 2008 national crown in Las Vegas Saturday night, following in the footsteps of former Miss America, Heather Renee French, DAAP ’97, who was crowned in 2000.
Other UC beauties have included Titilayo Adedokun, a CCM student, who was second runner-up for Miss America in 1993; Tiffany Haas, a CCM student, who competed for Miss America in 2003; Aisha Berry, Bus 05, who competed for Miss USA; and Sarah Jane Everman, also from CCM, who won the title America’s Junior Miss in 1999. (See more pageant winners from UC.)
Growing up in the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills, Haglund, 19, represented the state of Michigan. The musical theater student hopes to land on Broadway one day and shared her talent with the world over the weekend as she sang an impressive rendition of “Over the Rainbow.”
Haglund said she will use the crown to raise awareness of eating disorders, which she revealed she has had to overcome. She will also serve as the official National Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network.
The title includes a $50,000 scholarship and a speaking tour that will take her to every corner of the
country during her year of service as Miss America 2008. Pageant officials estimate she will travel 20,000 miles a month over the next year, which will end with her crowning the 2009 winner.
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| Kirsten Haglund, 19, represented the state of Michigan in the pageant. | Haglund, a musical theater major at UC, says she intends to one day perform on Broadway. |
Video slideshow of Kirsten Haglund.
Other pageant winners from UC
Links to outside media coverage
Additional photos from Miss America site
USA Today's piece on Haglund's win
Video
Youtube video of Kirsten's crowning
Haglund talks about her eating disorder
