Miss USA is Tar Heel in turquoise

Not only did Miss North Carolina USA Kristen Dalton win the Miss USA 2009 pageant Sunday.

She did it in a dress that wasn't white.

Becoming Miss USA has always been "a dream," Dalton said during a post-pageant news conference.

But, she added, "who ever thought you could win it in a turquoise gown? It's always white."

It was a fashionable afternoon all around as 51 contestants, representing every state and the District of Columbia, competed in the finals of the Miss USA 2009 pageant at Planet Hollywood Resort.

Dalton, a 22-year-old from Wilmington, N.C., hopes to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and as a motivational speaker. But, first, as Miss USA 2009, she will represent the United States in the 2009 Miss Universe Pageant on Aug. 23.

Miss California USA Carrie Prejean was named first runner-up, while Miss Arizona USA Alicia-Monique Blanco was second runner-up.

Miss Nevada USA Georgina Vaughan, 21, did not make the final field of 15 semifinalists, who were chosen last week during preliminary judging.

There were a few controversial moments during the question-and-answer portion of competition.

When a judge, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, asked a question about legalizing same-sex marriage, Miss California stumbled with her answer before saying, "We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage."

"And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman," Prejean said. "No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

Some in the audience cheered, others booed. The answer sparked a shouting match in the lobby after the show.

"It's ugly," Scott Ihrig, a gay man who attended the pageant with his partner, told The Associated Press.

"I think it's ridiculous that she got first runner-up. That is not the value of 95 percent of the people in this audience. Look around this audience and tell me how many gay men there are."

Charmaine Koonce, the mother of Miss New Mexico USA Bianca Matamoros-Koonce, argued back.

"In the Bible it says marriage is between Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!"

In contrast to the mixed reaction to Prejean's answer, there was much applause and cheering to an answer from Dalton, the ultimate Miss USA winner. Her response was that she opposes using taxpayer money to bail out struggling corporations.

While the questions and answers provided much for the audience to think about, there were plenty of fluffier things to enjoy.

It was an afternoon for glittery fashion: Multitudes of sash-bedecked Miss Whomevers -- Teen USAs, Junior Misses and, for all anybody knew, a grade school spelling bee champion or two -- were in the audience.

An opening dance number featured contestants wearing glittery silver, bare-midriff outfits that Judy Jetson might wear to the prom. And contestants wore seriously memorable string bikinis during the swimsuit competition.

Still, the most unusual fashion statement of the night came from Jessica Origliasso of the Australian pop duo The Veronicas. While performing during the pageant's evening gown competition, she wore a T-shirt bearing the cryptic, scrawled-on sentiment "I hate your band."

Dressed to the nines or not, the crowd was as enthusiastic and subtle as your basic pack of college football fans.

They held up posters and wore photo badges of their home state contestants, and cheered -- pardon the expression -- lustily, even if the first discernible wolf whistle wasn't loosed until Miss Idaho USA Melissa Weber was announced as one of the 15 semifinalists.

In other results, Miss USA contestants chose Miss Wyoming USA Cynthia Pate as Miss Congeniality USA, and she proved herself deserving of the honor by appearing to be absolutely floored about winning it. And online voters chose Miss West Virginia USA Jessi Pierson as Miss Photogenic USA on the basis of glamour shots that were posted on the Miss USA Web site.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.