Blaire Abene, Ms. Lincoln Parish, relishes the moment she is crowned Miss Louisiana 2008. Abene learned to sing in Italian at the age of five years old.
Katie Lorenz, Miss Chicago, throws kisses and waves to the audience as she is crowned Miss Illinois 2008. She performed a lyrical dance during the Illinois state pageant.
Janet Harding, Ms. Tahoma, wins a $10,000 cash scholarship as she is crowned Miss Washington 2008. In the talent portion of the state pageant, Harding played a classical piano piece that she said reminded her of a waterfall.
Kayla Barclay, Ms. Sanpete County, who was crowned Miss Utah 2008, loves to dance and play the piano. A surprising thing about her? She is the youngest of seven children and can stand on her head for 10 minutes.
When her name is announced as the winner of the Miss New Jersey 2008 pageant, Ashley Fairfield, Miss Columbus Day, seems genuinely shocked to have won the title, and the chance to compete in the Miss America 2009 contest.
Chasity Hardman, Miss Georgia 2008 is the youngest in a family of nine, plays alto saxophone, piano and the drums. She has appeared on the Paula Deen Show.
Rebecca Robinson, Miss Longview, is crowned Miss Texas 2008. Robinson, whose platform is bilingual education, performed a tap dance during the talent portion of the state competition.
Adrienne Watkinson, who is crowned Miss Maine 2008, spins around, cries, does a semi-drop to the floor and blows kisses as she takes in her crowing moment.
Kate Grinold is calm and poised as she is crowned Miss District of Columbia 2008. Grinold, a graduate of George Washington University, with a BA in international affairs, wants to help D.C. public schools.
A 22-year-old graduate of the University of Virginia, Leigh Taylor-Smith nearly dropped to the floor, then covered her eyes as she took the tiara and title: Miss New York 2008.
Inspired by her grandfather, who gave her a lithographic of The Swan when she was 15, Jackie Geist -- crowed Miss California 2008 -- performs the classical ballet by the same name -- en pointe.
Ellen Carrington -- Miss Scenic City -- is overjoyed as she is crowned Miss Tennessee 2008. Carrington, a senior at Union University, adopted volunteerism as her platform. She is a classically trained vocalist.
Texas is heating up, as Taralyn, 6, Brooklyn, 5, and newcomer Zanna, 6, all fight for the title of Ultimate Grand Supreme at the Groovy Girls Pageant in Nacogdoches, Texas.