Kristen Dalton

Miss USA 2009

 

For 23-year-old Kristen Dalton, winning the title of Miss USA® wasn't just a dream, it was destiny. From the age of three, she believed that one day she would wear the coveted Miss USA® crown and sash. On April 19, 2009, in Las Vegas, Nev., as a worldwide television audience watched, Dalton was crowned at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

"I've always been a stringent believer in the power of having a positive outlook," says Dalton. "I believe that your attitude determines your altitude." There's no telling how high the peak is for this ambitious beauty.

Dalton attended East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., where she represented her school as class president for two years and served as the vice president of the National Leadership Honor Society and The Psychology Honors Society. The North Carolina native majored in psychology, with a minor in Spanish. Dalton also spent time traveling throughout Spain and Guatemala, studying and volunteering.

Kristen Dalton is an accomplished singer, actress and dancer. She has appeared on hit television shows, including "One Tree Hill," "Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader?", "The Jay Leno Show" and has performed the national anthem at numerous sporting events, one of which was a Duke University vs. University of North Carolina basketball game. She is also a longtime volunteer to the North Carolina Special Olympics, and is currently a United Service Organization Ambassador representing North Carolina.

As Miss USA, Dalton was a spokeswoman for the official causes of the organization, which include breast and ovarian cancer education, research and legislation - a platform that is close to her heart. She enjoys traveling nationwide as an advocate for organizations such as the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Children's International, and Gilda's Club, among others. After her reign, Dalton aspires to be a motivational talk show host and a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations.