Miss Utah not your Stereotypical Pageant Contestant

Miss Utah not your stereotypical pageant contestant
January 24th, 2008 @ 10:10pm
Bruce Lindsay reporting

Utah's contestant in The Miss America pageant this year is shattering pageant stereotypes. Jill Stevens is a sergeant in the National Guard who served as a medic in Afghanistan. In advance of next week's pageant, we spoke with "G.I. Jill."

In combat boots or in high heels, Jill Stevens hasn't been one to pass up a challenge. "It's been a lot of walking in high heels, and my feet, I feel like they are bruised (laughs). It's a whole new training."

Training to become the next Miss America isn't easy, but Jill says she's enjoyed preparing for the pageant this week in Las Vegas. "It's been great, a lot of rehearsals, a lot of jokes and just laughing around, hanging out with the girls. It's been a lot fun," she says.

Before the contestants could make it on stage, they had to prove they could break away from the "traditional pageant look." The cablecast "Miss America: Reality Check" seriously updates the image of Miss America.

Stevens says, "I really think Miss America should be relatable and really represent the diversity of American women. And I think she should be well spoken, out there, talented -- all what we're portraying in this competition."

The Miss America Organization has announced a new national platform, supporting the Children's Miracle Network. Miss America 2008 will become the goodwill ambassador for this children's cause as well as an ambassador for her personal platform.

Stevens says her platform is emergency preparedness. "Because emergencies are common to everyone, they happen everywhere; but we do not all have to be casualties, and the difference is preparing."

Stevens is prepared and reporting for duty at The Miss America Pageant, Saturday night. It will air on TLC.