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.

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

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.

Haglund performed “Over the Rainbow” as her talent to clinch the crown, but professor Roger 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. …