Utah Guard aims to see its own Miss America

LAS VEGAS — Gen. Jefferson Burton isn't what you would call a pageant guy. He's had a full military career and was recently promoted to general in the Utah Army National Guard.

He's up at 4:30 a.m. to oversee the training of 5,000 soldiers. He is, after all, a square-jawed, man's man military guy.

But when one of his soldiers has a good shot at becoming Miss America, the seasoned general sounds more like a beaming father.

"I'm tickled to death for Jill Stevens," Burton said.

To Burton, she's normally known as Sgt. Stevens, but the former Miss Southern Utah University, Miss Kaysville and current Miss Utah has traded her combat boots for a pair of 4-inch heels to walk the stage at the Miss America Pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

Stevens was deployed as a medic to Afghanistan for a year — and is the only Miss America contestant ever to have wartime experience. She's competing against 51 other women for the annual title.

"Right now, I'd rather be in Afghanistan," Stevens said during rehearsals Friday. "I am my own worst critic. I'm not doing so hot. I'm beating myself down."

A coughed note during her talent performance — "I'm Shy" from "Once Upon a Mattress" — and what she called a "slaughtered" on-stage question were discouraging. But hope is alive, she said.

"Usually when I prepare for something, I give it my full heart. I give it everything," she said. "I usually deliver." Burton won't be the only general in attendance at tonight's pageant. Maj. Gen. Peter S. Cooke, commander of the 96th Regional Readiness Command, is also planning to attend, and so is Brig. Gen. Anne MacDonald, chief of staff, U.S. Army Reserve Command.

The American Legion is sponsoring 50 members of the Guard to attend the "Miss America Live!" pageant, which will air on TLC at 9 p.m. At least 80 are expected to attend.

Other soldiers got a military discount to attend the pageant, said Sharlene Hawkes, Miss America 1985 and Utah's most recent beauty queen to hold the national crown. Hawkes, who has contacts in the military, has been talking up Stevens and generated interest in the pageant.

"She sends a really clear message that those who make up our Army come from all walks of life," Hawkes said. "Jill represents that perfectly."

Stevens said she knows she is neither a stereotypical soldier or a stereotypical beauty queen. The 12-time marathoner said this point in the competition feels like the last two-tenths of a mile of a 26.2-mile marathon.