Miss Duneland takes crown

By Sarah Lang/For the Times Sentinel

The third time was the charm for Miss Duneland Nicole Pollard at Saturday night, June 27’s Miss Indiana pageant at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center.

She was crowned Miss Indiana 2009, after two years of being the first runner-up. She was also in the top 10 in the 2006 pageant.

Pollard, a senior at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, represented her platform “The Awareness and Prevention of Eating Disorders.”

“It's imperative that we finally focus and promote not only healthy eating habits, but also challenge the belief of the 'ideal' appearance,” she said in her biography.

Pollard performed “This is my Beloved” from the 1953 musical “Kismet” for her vocal talent, and stated that casinos are a good way to aid the state's economy in her interview section.

“I do think they are a wonderful resource to tax and give back to the state,” she said.

Miss Indiana 2008 Megan Meadors gave up her crown after only four months, as she was crowned March 6 after Indiana's first Miss America, Katie Stam, was crowned in Las Vegas in January.

“I tried five times, and five times fell short of my goal,” Meadors said in her farewell video. And after Stam was crowned, “we all wondered who would be the new Miss Indiana. At fifth runner-up, I never imagined it would be me.”

As snippets from Meadors' previous Miss Indiana tries in previous years graced the jumbo screen, the accompanying music was fittingly Miley Cyrus' “The Climb:” “Ain't about how fast I get there; Ain't about what's waiting on the other side; It's the climb.” Meadors spoke on her past few whirlwind months, as she was crowned Miss Indiana, made over 100 appearances, graduated with her master's degree in occupational therapy and got engaged to, who she described as, the man of her dreams. She also met celebrities like Marie Osmond, Clinton Kelly and, her favorite, Peyton Manning.

“I had the opportunity to touch the lives of every age group,” she said. “And although many mistook me for Katie (Stam), you still made me feel like a star even after you realized I wasn't Miss America.”

She then performed “When You Believe.”

Meadors and Stam performed together during the evening — a song from the Broadway musical “Wicked” called “For Good.” In the song, the two, portraying the farewell between Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, sing, “Who can say if I've been changed for the better; but because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”

Miss Indiana Outstanding Teen 2009 was introduced to the crowd for the first time since earning the title the night before. Seventeen-year-old Lydia Daley of Auburn said the new title is still surreal, and now she is preparing for the Miss America Outstanding Teen pageant in five weeks in Orlando, Fla.

As Miss Indiana, Pollard won a $6,000 Miss Indiana scholarship, an $800 Elks scholarship, flowers courtesy of Nana’s Village House in Zionsville and a slew of Miss America preparations, such as an all-expenses-paid trip to the pageant, a competition gown, interview preparation and jewelry.

Miss Indiana State University Carolyne Holcomb was first runner-up, winning a $3,000 Miss Indiana scholarship, a $400 Elks scholarship, flowers from Nana’s Village House, interview preparation and a gift certificate to Divine Chic. Miss Heart of Indiana Gabrielle Reed was second runner-up, taking home a $2,000 Miss Indiana scholarship, a $250 Elks scholarship and flowers from Nana’s Village House.

Miss Fort Wayne Jessica Butler took third runner-up and a $1,500 Miss Indiana scholarship, a $250 Elks scholarship and flowers from Nana’s Village House. Miss Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne Victoria McKee was fourth runner-up and won a $1,300 Miss Indiana scholarship, a $250 Elks scholarship and flowers from Nana’s Village House.

The remaining top 10 — Miss Wabash Valley Christina DeVoe, Miss Kankakee Valley Leanna Ross, Miss Elkhart County Katie Hrynewycz, Miss Three Rivers Festival Emily Hart and Miss Hoosier Valley Paige Brandt — all won a $1,000 Miss Indiana scholarship and a $250 Elks scholarship.

The 18 non-finalists all took home a $300 Miss Indiana scholarship, and all the women were given gifts from Vera Bradley. Miss Harvest Homecoming Valerie DeVore was the non-finalist talent winner with her gymnastics routine, and Miss Indiana University Maggie Delaney was the non-finalist interview winner.

Miss Southern Heartland Heather Brown won the Miss America Academic Award and a $1,000 scholarship. Miss Hoosier Heartland Kelli Hoffman won the Miss America State Community Service Award and a $1,000 scholarship. Miss Cosmopolitan Brittany Hagan won the newcomer award, the highest point total for a first-year participant, and the Children's Miracle Network Miracle Maker Award. Brandt won the People's Choice Award, and Ross won the Hoosier Spirit Award, an award voted on by her fellow contestants.

The 69th Miss Indiana pageant, the fifth time in Zionsville, was “a good year,” said pageant co-director Frank Ricketts.

“Ticket sales were up this year,” he said. “Saturday was a dream come true. Everything ran just like clockwork. We have two great winners and we know they will do a great job representing our program.”

The nearly sold-out crowd was electric, from the introduction video where the applause seemed to build for every new face that appeared on the screen to the celebration of Miss Indiana alumni, where Miss Indiana 1940 Alice Ullery received a roaring standing ovation.

Stam said the four-hour event goes by too fast, and advised each of the contestants to “take a deep breath and savor every moment.”

Pollard will represent Indiana in the Miss America 2010 pageant Jan. 30 in Las Vegas.

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