There she is...

In the fall of 2006, Kirsten Haglund beat out 700-plus auditioners to be one of only 20 students selected to the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music.

Less than two years later, the musical theatre major, in only her third pageant appearance, became a member of an even more exclusive organization, outlasting a 52-contestant field to win the Miss America 2008 crown.

At 19 years old, Haglund was the youngest representative at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on January 26.

Haglund became the second UC student to garner the Miss America title in the last eight years-graduate student Heather Renee French, '97, won the pageant in 2000.

In 1993, the then Miss Ohio Titilayo Adedokun, also a CCM student, was second runner-up.

"It was totally surreal," Haglund said. "I couldn't believe it. I've been watching Miss America since I was a little girl."

On June 16, 2007, Haglund, a Farmington Hills, Mich. native, became the youngest Miss Michigan ever at 18, joining her grandmother, Iora Hunt, who represented Michigan in the 1944 Miss America pageant.

Since the age of two, Haglund has been singing and dancing, according to her mother, Iora, who shares the same name as the pageant-winner's grandmother.

"When her father [Valdor] and I looked back at her childhood, now we see all the pieces coming together," she said.

Haglund, before being involved in theater at Western High School in Walled Lake, Mich., danced ballet six, sometimes seven times a week.

Her passion for dance and the arts paid off after winning Miss Oakland County while in high school. Haglund entered the local Michigan pageant to earn money for college, according to her mother.

UC's CCM was always number one on Haglund's list of potential places to advance her studies after falling in love with the campus' diversity and architecture, Haglund said.

After judges such as CCM professors Roger Grodsky and Diane Lala evaluated the young Broadway-hopeful on a dance routine, two sung songs and a monologue, they selected Haglund as one of only about 20 students accepted into the college.

Haglund performed in the freshman showcase, which exhibited singing, acting and dancing skills, and performed in the fall 2006 production of The Pajama Game.

"I am thrilled for her," said Lala. "I know this is what she really wanted."

Lala, who serves as the choreographer for the young crown-winner, affirmed dance is Haglund's "specialty"-one she was unable to display at the 87-year-old pageant.

Haglund performed "Over the Rainbow" as her talent to clinch the crown, but Grodsky, who is the newly-titled Miss America's vocal coach at UC, thought another factor may have swayed the judges.

"I thought she won when she stepped out on the stage in that bikini," Grodsky said.

Haglund donned a silver arabesqed dress and a black bikini during the evening gown and swimsuit portion of the pageant.

Grodsky only taught Haglund for two quarters before the young talent took a yearlong break from her studies at UC to prepare for her shot at the Miss America crown after winning the Miss Michigan title in 2007.

In January 2006, Haglund made the trip to Las Vegas to cheer on the then Miss Michigan, Angela Corsi, who is also a Farmington Hills, Mich. native.

"Everybody" from Farmington Hills, according to Haglund's mother, sat in the audience Saturday in Las Vegas as Kirsten seized the tiara and draped the "Miss America" sash, including her grandmother Iora Hunt, whose pictures of her 1944 reign as Miss Michigan hang throughout the Haglund home.

As Miss America, Haglund plans to raise awareness of eating disorders, an ailment from which she has recovered. Haglund said she will travel 20,000 miles a month in efforts to raise awareness and speak of her victorious bout with anorexia.

While at UC, Haglund lent her time to the Women's Center serving as a peer educator dispensing information about body image throughout the campus.

"She's just a really good spirit and very sincere," said Women's Center Program Coordinator for Peer Education Brandy Turnbow.

Turnbow wrote a letter of recommendation for Haglund for the Miss America Quality of Life Award. Requirements for the scholarship include applicants exceling in their commitment to enhancing the quality of life for others, volunteerism and community service, according to Haglund.

Haglund said she will also be the official spokesperson of the International House of Pancake's third-annual National Pancake Day.

On Feb. 12, IHOP is scheduled to give away one free short stack of its signature pancakes to all guests. In return, IHOP and the Miss America Organization ask that the guests consider supporting local children's hospitals through Children's Miracle Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving children's hospitals nationwide.

According to Haglund, she received over $61,000 in scholarships from The Miss America Organization, the world's largest provider of scholarships for young women.

An admitted "total nerd," Haglund hopes to revitalize the image of Miss America and appeal to a younger demographic while still remaining humble and down-to-earth.

"I'm still a real person," Haglund said. "I still love school and have a passion to be a great student."

Haglund said she expects to be in Clifton at CCM studying and performing again in the fall of 2009.