Kristen Dalton - Miss North Carolina USA has won the Miss USA 2009. She was crowned by former titleholder Crystle Stewart of Texas on Sunday at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

"It feels really natural," Dalton said of her win. "I've worked so be here and this has been my lifelong dream and it's finally here. And whoever knew you could win in a turquoise gown?"

The 22-year-old blue eyed beauty from Wilmington is an aspiring motivational speaker and entertainer.She graduated from Hoggard High School and is an Honors College Psychology and Spanish major at East Carolina University. Her mother was Miss North Carolina USA 1982 and her younger sister Julia Dalton was Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008 and placed 2nd runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2008; the third Dalton sister Kenzie Dalton is engaged to Chad Michael Murray and also competed in the Miss North Carolina Teen USA pageant and placed 1st runner-up.

Dalton’s victory has earned her a New York City apartment, a PR team, a two-year scholarship at the New York Film Academy and an undisclosed salary.

Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, of San Diego, was named first runner-up.

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