Jill Stevens: 'America's choice' — Yet Michigan's Kirsten Haglund crowned Miss America 2008

LAS VEGAS — The journey to Miss America ended for Miss Utah, Jill Stevens, Saturday evening when she was eliminated from the competition after landing among the final 16 as the "America's Choice" candidate, chosen by voters on the Web.

But the journey continues for Miss Michigan, Kirsten Haglund, 19 and this year's youngest contestant, who walked away with the crown after beating out 51 other contestants at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Miss America 2007, Lauren Nelson, crowned Haglund to the cheers of the 7,000 in attendance.

Haglund hails from Farmington Hills, Mich., and performed an operatic solo during the pageant. Having overcome an eating disorder in high school, she made raising awareness of eating disorders her platform issue.

Besides the crown and title, Haglund also receives a $50,000 scholarship.

Though Stevens had one of the largest cheering sections Saturday — one full of soldiers from the Utah National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves — and the most publicity of any candidate leading up to the competition, it wasn't enough to win over the hearts of the Miss America judges.

Stevens, 24, from Kaysville, was chosen as America's Choice candidate after votes from the Web went in her favor.

Shortly after Stevens was eliminated, her mother, Karen Stephens, told the Deseret Morning News that her daughter would "rather be America's Choice than any other candidate."

The America's Choice designation meant that Stevens, a nursing graduate from Southern Utah University, cleared a critical hurdle early in the competition when 37 contestants, including her, were eliminated by judges.

Those online votes placed Stevens back in the running and on equal footing with the judge-selected contestants.

Haglund said Stevens deserved the America's Choice designation.

She called Stevens a "morale booster" and said the two had bonded. "We love her," she said.

The Learning Channel, which is hosting the pageant for the next three years, aired a reality show over the past four weeks, "Miss America: Reality Check," which showcased the 52 contestants in a variety of team challenges while they lived together in a Los Angeles mansion during a week in November.

From the airing of the first episode in early January, Miss America fans voted for their favorite.