LAS VEGAS, April 20 (UPI) -- Miss North Carolina USA title winner Kristen Dalton has been crowned Miss USA 2009.
"My Name is Earl" star Nadine Velazquez and Billy Bush of "Access Hollywood" were the hosts of the 58th annual Miss USA pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas Sunday. The pageant was televised live on NBC.
Dalton is a singer and dancer who completed her degrees in psychology and Spanish at East Carolina University. Her mother was Miss North Carolina USA in 1982 and her sister was Miss North Carolina Teen USA in 2008, The Miss Universe Organization said in a news release.
Throughout Sunday's two-hour event, the contestants competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview.
The first runner-up was Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, and the second runner-up was Miss Arizona USA Alicia-Monique Blanco.
Rounding out the top tier were Miss Utah USA Laura Kirilova Chukanov, and Miss Kentucky USA Maria Elizabeth Montgomery.
