Miss USA 2009 is Kristen Dalton of North Carolina

Miss USA 2009 is Kristen Dalton of North Carolina

Kristen Dalton, Miss North Carolina 2009, took home the Miss USA crown Sunday evening in Las Vegas, edging past Miss California Carrie Prejean and Miss Arizona, Alicia-Monique Blanco.

Dalton is part of a North Carolina pageant dynasty (we were surprised as you to learn that such a thing exists): Her mother was Miss North Carolina USA 1982 and her sister was Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008.

Dalton, a blue-eyed blonde who studied psychology and Spanish at East Carolina University, hails from Wilmington and, according to the press release from the Miss USA organization, is a talented singer and dancer, though you wouldn't know it from the pageant, which, unlike Miss America, does not have a talent competition (although parading across a stage in a bikini designed by none other than esteemed tastemaker Jessica Simpson and gold high heels does require an abundance of balance, poise and at least two other things.

Kristen Dalton left for Las Vegas on April 2, armed with six bags of luggage, an iPod and her Bible. At 22, the reigning Miss N.C. USA, and former Miss Greater Wilmington 2006, is rehearsing from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily in preparation for the upcoming 58th Annual Miss USA competition.

Growing up with daily devotions and regular church attendance, Kristen knew pageants would be the perfect place to squash any negative opinions of rowdy pageant participants of the past.

"It feels really natural," Dalton said of her win. "I've worked so be here and this has been my lifelong dream and it's finally here. And whoever knew you could win in a turquoise gown?"

The 22-year-old blue eyed beauty from Wilmington is an aspiring motivational speaker and entertainer. Her mother was Miss North Carolina USA 1982 and her sister was Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008.

Her current duties as Miss N.C. USA will keep Kristen busy as she works with the Miss Universe organization’s charitable alliances including Susan G. Komen for the Cure, The USO, Special Olympics, The American Cancer Society and speaking to youth audiences targeting issues such as peer pressure and perseverance. No stranger to hard work, Kristen is a financially independent college student by choice, and has worked at numerous jobs while attending ECU, at times employed at four different jobs at one time.