2010 Mrs America Winner is: Miss Virginia, Careesa Cameron

Miss Virginia, Careesa Cameron, won the 2010 Miss America Pageant Saturday night, Jan. 30, held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada.   The competition was close with Miss California, Kristi Cavinder finishing as first runner up.  If for some reason Careesa Cameron can not fulfill her duties as Miss America, then Kristi Cavinder will be next in line to take her position.

In the preliminary talent competition, Miss Virginia sung Beyoncé’s “Listen” from the movie Dreamgirls, and won a $2000 scholarship along with her $50,000 scholarship for becoming Miss America.  Miss California was also a preliminary winner in the talent competition for her Ballet en Pointe performance to the Slave Maiden Variation from Le Corsaire, for which she will receive a $2000 scholarship, in addition to her $25,000 scholarship as 1st runner up.

This money will surely be put to good use because 21 year old Kristi Cavinder is a student at USC whose goal is to become a pediatric heart surgeon.  She graduated Valedictorian from Crystal Cathedral High School, a Christian school associated with Dr. Robert Schuller’s famous Crystal Cathedral church.

Another Miss California, USA, was fellow Christian Carrie Prejean from San Diego who was famously launched into the spotlight for her response to a question about making same-sex marriage legal.   So far, no such scandal looms on the horizon, although controversial talk show host Rush Limbaugh was one of the guest judges and may catch flack for anything – including his salute to the audience.

Mario Lopez hosted this year’s event, as well the 2007 Miss America competition.  Mario hales from Chula Vista, CA, a suburb of San Diego.