Miss America 2011? It's Miss Nebraska, Teresa Scanlan
Miss Nebraska Teresa Scanlan, 17, donned the crown as Miss America 2011 on Saturday night in Las Vegas, following in the footsteps of last year's queen, Caressa Cameron out of Virginia.
The winner of a $50,000 scholarship, she plans to go to law school and hopes to go into politics.
"At this point, attorneys and politicians are looked down on and have terrible reputations for being greedy and power hungry," the teen said, "and I really think it's important for people who have their heart and mind in the right place get into those powerful positions."
And how did she charm the judges, aside from the gown and swimsuit? She played the piano, and told judges she thinks security trumps the public's right to knowledge when it comes to leaked government information.
Scanlan is the first Miss America from Nebraska in the competition's 90 years. Her beauty queen diet? "I never passed up a cookie on my journey here," she said.
Click the picture for more photos from the 2011 Miss America Pageant.
RELATED:
Miss USA Rima Fakih returns to Michigan to vote
Carrie Prejean is pregnant, hubby Kyle Boller ecstatic
Miss Universe win goes to Miss Mexico, Jimena Navarrete
-- Christie D'Zurilla
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Photo: Teresa Scanlan, Miss Nebraska, reacts after being named one of the top 15 finalists during the 2011 Miss America Pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Jan. 15, 2011, in Las Vegas. Scanlan went on to be crowned the new Miss America. Credit: Ethan Miller / Getty Images
I am so proud that Miss Nebraska won the title of Miss America. She has made Nebraska proud. God Bless you in the year ahead.
Posted by: Yvonne Moy | Jan 16, 2011 at 06:39 PM
Isn't it amazing that the most intelligent response to the final question came from a teenager. There is hope in our future!
Posted by: Tairen Foster | Jan 16, 2011 at 08:04 PM
I am from Nebraska! And I am so happy that she won. I think people look down on our state and think of us just another cattle/corn state. But truly we are more than that. Congrats!!
Posted by: Courtney | Jan 17, 2011 at 12:03 PM
All the final contestants deserved to win, all were very talented and beautiful, and Miss Nebraska is very young to have all that talent, poise, and beauty, so maybe she was even more deserving of the title and besides, she will be a great role model to high school girls.
Posted by: Chris Taus | Jan 17, 2011 at 11:43 PM
Gasp! Miss Texas was robbed again!? har, har..
Posted by: ChaChaheels | Jan 18, 2011 at 01:12 PM
I can't even believe that these contests are still being held. I thought they were outdated?
Posted by: Angel | Jan 23, 2011 at 03:40 PM