PHOTOS & VIDEO: Miss New York Mallory Hagan Crowned Miss America

by uInterviewJanuary 13, 2013, 12:00 amNews >

Mallory Hagan, Miss New York, was crowned Miss America 2013 on Saturday in Las Vegas, beating out 52 other contestants.

Hagan, 23, a Brooklyn-based Alabama native, came out ahead of Miss Carolina Alia Rogers and Miss Oklahoma Alicia Clifton. While this was Hagan's first time competing at the Miss America pageant, she has twice been a runner-up in the contest to claim the crown of Miss New York. The last Miss New York to take home the title of Miss America was Vanessa Williams in 1984.

For her talent, Hagan tap-danced to James Brown’s "Get Up Offa That Thing (Release the Pressure)."

Her eveningwear was a white assymetrical gown, while her swimsuit was a black string bikini. During the question round, she had to answer to Good Morning America’s weatherman, Sam Champion. "In the wake of the Newtown tragedy there has been a lot of talk about gun control, one solution being proposed is an armed guard in every school," Champion said. "Do you think that would make our schools safer?"

"I don't think the proper way to fight violence is with violence," Hagan responded. "I think the proper way is to educate people on guns and the ways we can use them properly. We can lock them up, we can have gun safety classes, we can have a longer waiting period."

Hagan, who is currently studying advertising, marketing and communications at FIT, is the recipient of $50,000 in college scholarship money. For the next year, she will wear the crown of Miss America as she fundraises across the country for the Children's Miracle Network.