Senate honors Miss Utah — in combat boots

The Utah Senate told Miss Utah, Jill Stevens , on Monday that it was not only proud that she was named "America's Choice" at the Miss America pageant, but that it also liked her choice of wardrobe during her Capitol visit.

She was wearing combat boots and fatigues.

"I'm glad to see you back in combat boots instead of those high heels," Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Cottonwood Heights, told Stevens.

"It's a lot more comfortable," said Stevens, a medic in the Utah National Guard who served in Iraq.

"I think you being voted 'America's Choice' is a true win for us," Walker added.

After Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, introduced Stevens as Miss Utah to the Senate, he quickly added, "I should have called you sergeant."

"Jill works just great," she said.

Stevens told senators she was proud to visit the Senate, and proud to have represented Utah. Then Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, suggested that she and Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo, do push-ups together — as Stevens did at the Miss America pageant when she was eliminated.

"I'm up for it," she said. But the Senate did not make her nor Bramble do the push-ups.