Miss North Carolina crowned Miss USA 2009

The Tar Heel state can add another champion to its list. First UNC wins the NCAA tournament and now Miss North Carolina USA is crowned Miss USA 2009. The Associated Press reports Kristen Dalton, of Wilmington, beat out Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, of San Diego, second runner-up Miss Arizona USA Alicia-Monique Blanco, of Phoenix, and 49 other contestants to claim the crown.

The 21-year-old earns a year's use of a New York apartment, a public relations team, a two-year scholarship at the New York Film Academy and an undisclosed salary. Dalton will also head to the Bahamas to compete in the Miss Universe Pageant.

Twitter users are excited for Dalton:

1. 
   hermansim The girl in Blue takes the crown... yay Kristen Dalton of North Carolina. The underdog
2. heelsqtpie is really happy that Kristen Dalton has become the 2nd MISS NORTH CAROLINA to be become MISS USA. --- THAT'S TWO IN 4 YEARS
3. 
   mszjoycii congrats to kristen dalton from north carolina!!
4. JannellLeigh so proud my childhood friend, Kristen Dalton, just won Miss USA!!!! http://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/members/profile/239

Miss USA aired live on NBC from Las Vegas. Contestants were judged by their performance in swimsuit and evening gown modeling contests and answering questions onstage. The Miss USA pageant does not include a talent portion. Judges included Kelly Monaco, Perez Hilton and Holly Madison. The show was hosted by Billy Bush and Nadine Velazquez.

During the question and answer portion, Miss California USA stumbled through her response to a question about legalizing same-sex marriage, posed by Hilton. Prejean's response earned both cheers and boos from the audience. You can see her answer in the YouTube clip below.



Some Twitterers support Miss California in her beliefs:

1. 
   tdunn24 Why is Perez Hilton still cry'n over Carrie Prejean's response??? YOU GO GIRL!! Itz a free country and propz for be'n honest!!
2. 
   donkeyinabox I'm proud of Carrie Prejean
3. 
   ricktrevino Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, of San Diego was attacked unfairly by Perez Hilton JUDGE...Christian values under attack. Tbone snds
4. 
   HilaryKennedy I am supporting Carrie Prejean. Seems to me Perez Hilton is intolerant, not the other way around....
5. 
   leahkaybar I support Miss California, Carrie Prejean!

Others were less than pleased with her response:

1. 
   subratabanik miss cali, carrie prejean, emerges from under a rock, undergoes plastic this & plastic that & yapps out the most puritanical bigoted answer
2. 
   tdunn24 Why is Perez Hilton still cry'n over Carrie Prejean's response??? YOU GO GIRL!! Itz a free country and propz for be'n honest!!
3. 
   petenretweet RT @iHEARTjennart Leave it to Carrie Prejean to give California an ugly face.
4. 
   johnlesandiego Lord have mercy, Carrie Prejean is just the latest right wing nut job from San Diego, along with Daryll Issa & Randy Duke Cunningham
5. 
   ranggrol Carrie Prejean, if that is your real name, are you serious with this "opposite marriage" thing? Can't wait to see Colbert's take on this.