HIGHLAND — Katie Millar was really an outside-the-box contestant for Miss America.

Not only was Miss Utah the only one to wear a one-piece, modest swimsuit in the physical fitness segment, but she played her electric violin with only three working strings. (The fourth broke just as she started the fast-paced "Souvenir d'Amerique.")

She put her $700 beaded gown up against dresses that easily cost $10,000 or more. It wasn't slit or low-cut, and where it criss-crossed in front, she sewed it up.

She's not accustomed to wearing makeup or flashy jewelry.

Add that to the fact that she's young — only 19 at the time of the competition — and this is her first time competing in any beauty pageants.

That didn't stop her from securing a place among the top 10 or from winning over not only judges but fellow contestants at the January event. (A number of the other women told the TV cameras they would vote for Miss Utah for Miss Congeniality.)

She was fine with fielding the traditional "Mormon" questions from pageant judges: What do you think of polygamy? What's your opinion on abortion? Would you vote for Mitt Romney for president?

Millar knows the path she is pursuing is different, maybe even seen as odd by the rest of the world.

"I wanted to represent BYU, my church, my family and be who I was. I told them at the pageant I'm probably the meatloaf mom from Utah," Millar said.

She was surprised to find herself at the Miss America Pageant. It was never one of her original goals.

"I'm not title-hungry," she said.

In real life, she is a brainy, disciplined college student with a bent for all things neuroscientific and child-related.

She's the concerned sister of a sibling diagnosed with juvenile diabetes — thus her choice for her platform.

She's a good daughter who's willing to pull weeds for her sister's backyard wedding reception the day before she's scheduled to compete in a state beauty pageant.

And she's very sure of herself.

She recognizes that graduating from high school at 17, being a senior at Brigham Young University and competing in the Miss America pageant at 19 is unusual.

"I would say (to girls out there interested in beauty pageants) to definitely try if it's what you want but have a purpose for being there. Have a reason for running and make sure your motivation is pure. It's a hard job," she said.

Her parents say she's handled the competition and the demands of the past year beautifully.

"I think she's wonderful," said her dad. "I'm really proud of what she's stood for. You knew her qualities would shine through."