3 Comments
In 2007, the reputation of Carolina beauty queens suffered a severe blow when Miss Teen South Carolina botched geography and diction in what became a wildly popular viral video. But don't worry, the North has come to the rescue. As in North Carolinian Kristen Dalton, who grabbed the title of Miss USA last night. The 21-year-old aspires to be a motivational speaker. And if she can motivate our nation's shiftless youths to emulate her pageant-quality bone structure, everybody wins.

Check out pics from the pageant below.

Miss USA 2009

    NO TABLOIDS! LL Cool J center and Miss USA Contestants attend TAO Las Vegas in The Venetian Hotel and Casino on April 16, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. LL Cool J Hosts At Tao Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV United States April 16, 2009 Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage.com To license this image (57201454), contact WireImage.com

    Denise Truscello/WireImage.com

    NO TABLOIDS! Miss USA 2008 Crystal Stewart arrives at the Reality Cares AmeriFace Benefit at Prive in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on April 10, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reality Cares' AmeriFace Benefit Las Vegas, NV United States April 10, 2009 Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage.com To license this image (57168417), contact WireImage.com

    Denise Truscello/WireImage.com

    In a photo provided by the Miss Universe organization, contestants from the 2009 Miss USA contest rehearse before pre-taping the opening number in Las Vegas, Friday April 10, 2009. Miss USA 2009 will be crowned during the NBC broadcast of the 2009 Miss USA competition on Sunday, April 19, 2009 at the Theater of Performing Arts at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Greg Harbaugh/ Miss Universe)

    AP

    LAS VEGAS - APRIL 9: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO SALES NO ARCHIVE) In this handout photo provided by the Las Vegas News Bureau, Miss USA Pageant contestants (R-L) Miss Idaho Melissa Weber, Miss Kansas Courtney Courter and Miss Georgia Kimberly Gittings take a sushi lesson at Sushi Samba at the Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino April 9, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bob Brye/Las Vegas News Bureau via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kimberly Gittings;Melissa Weber;Courtney Courter

    Getty Images

    LAS VEGAS - APRIL 9: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO SALES NO ARCHIVE) In this handout photo provided by the Las Vegas News Bureau, Miss USA Pageant contestants Miss Connecticut Monica Mary Pietrzak (L) and Miss Massachusetts Alison Michele Cronin take a sushi lesson at Sushi Samba at the Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino April 9, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bob Brye/Las Vegas News Bureau via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alison Michele Cronin;Monica Mary Pietrzak

    Getty Images

    NO TABLOIDS! Miss USA 2009 contestants and Miss USA crystal Stewart (C) attend Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on April 4, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Planet Hollywood Resort And Casino Welcomes Miss USA 2009 Contestants Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas, NV United States April 4, 2009 Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage.com To license this image (57129828), contact WireImage.com

    Denise Truscello/WireImage.com

    NO TABLOIDS! Miss USA 2008 Crystal Stewart attends Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on April 4, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Planet Hollywood Resort And Casino Welcomes Miss USA 2009 Contestants Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas, NV United States April 4, 2009 Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage.com To license this image (57129799), contact WireImage.com

    Denise Truscello/WireImage.com

    NO TABLOIDS! Miss USA 2008 Crystal Stewart attends the Miss USA 2009 dinner at Bucco di Beppo Las Vegas on April 4, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Buco Di Peppo Host Miss USA 2009 Dinner Bucco di Beppo Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV United States April 4, 2009 Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage.com To license this image (57129715), contact WireImage.com

    Denise Truscello/WireImage.com

    NO TABLOIDS! Miss USA 2009 contestants at the Miss USA 2009 dinner at Bucco di Beppo Las Vegas on April 4, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Buco Di Peppo Host Miss USA 2009 Dinner Bucco di Beppo Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV United States April 4, 2009 Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage.com To license this image (57129723), contact WireImage.com

    Denise Truscello/WireImage.com

    Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza smiles during the Miss Venezuela 2008 beauty pageant in Caracas in September 10, 2008 file photo. Caracas-born Mendoza, 22, who visited the U.S. naval facility and the detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from March 20 to 25 along with Miss USA Crystle Stewart, 27, enthused about her trip as an "incredible experience" in a blog entry posted on the Miss Universe website dated March 27, 2009. REUTERS/Susana Gonzalez/Files (VENEZUELA ENTERTAINMENT HEADSHOT)

    Reuters