Title stands for more than winner’s beauty

By Korie Wilkins

Published: March 17, 2009

Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 2008, says she tries to combat the worst stereotypes of pageant winners, including that they are "programmed and only want the title for the glory of the crown.” She says she competed to win scholarship money and to raise awareness about eating disorders. Here, she answers a few questions about her 12 months as Miss America.

Q: What is your favorite memory from your reign?

A: Definitely lobbying Congress with the Eating Disorders Coalition in Washington, D.C., last April for the passage of Mental Health Parity. I spoke in the offices of several U.S. congressmen and -women, senators and at a congressional briefing with experts in the field.

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met?

A: One of the most inspirational and interesting was probably Patrick Kennedy, the congressman from Rhode Island who has been very open about his struggles with mental illness and chemical addiction.

Q: What are your plans now?

A: Grow the foundation, get other celebrities on the healthy-body-image train, continue to speak across the country about this issue and get back into acting training and auditioning.

Q: What will you miss about being Miss America?

A: My duties as national goodwill ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network.

Q: What was the one unexpected thing or lesson from your year as Miss America?

A: Time is money. Really.

Q: How has being Miss America changed you?

A: It has given me an incredible amount of confidence that I never had before, in myself, my abilities, my marketability, the value of my ideas and my life experiences. I feel that I have the validation of self and the personal resources to be able to do anything I set my mind to.

McClatchy Tribune Information Services