Miss Indiana First Runner Up In Miss America

Congrats to Miss Indiana,  Nicole Elizabeth Rash.  From the South Bend Tribune:

Miss Michigan Kirsten Haglund, a 19-year-old aspiring Broadway star, was crowned Miss America 2008 on Saturday in a live show billed as the unveiling of the 87-year-old pageant’s new, hipper look.

Haglund, of Farmington Hills, Mich., sang “Over the Rainbow” and walked a crowd-pleasing strut in a black and gold bikini to clinch the title. She beat Miss Indiana Nicole Elizabeth Rash, the first runner up, and Miss Washington Elyse Umemoto, the second runner up for the $50,000 scholarship and year of travel that comes with the crown.

From the Miss America site on Indiana’s representative:  Miss Nicole Elizabeth Rash hails from Plymouth, Indiana.  She is a student at Ball State University where she is studying Fashion Merchandising.  She eventually wants “To own a Women’s Formalwear Boutique where I would sell my original designs”.  Miss Rash also carries a G.P.A. of 4.0.  Note: the picture is of Miss Rash, not Miss Haglund.