Pageant News Bureau - National Sweetheart 2005

'V' for Victory;

'S' for Sweetheart

Photos by Joe Whiteko / PNB

Adrielle Churchill of Arkansas, Miss National Sweetheart 2005

Miss America has changed her address and changed her style. The pageant that got its start in a beach resort on the Eastern Seaboard is now hanging out in a Western desert oasis. And moving from Atlantic City to Las Vegas is more than just trading Monopoly for baccarat. There's a little less talk about scholarships now, at least to the media. There's a little more skin and a hint of sin.

But National Sweetheart, the unacknowledged country cousin of Miss America, is still in Hoopeston, Ill., where they grow the sweetest corn east of the Mississippi. She's the same wholesome girl who's been beloved by true pageant fans for generations.

Adrielle Churchill

Amanda Kozak of Georgia and Adrielle Churchill of Arkansas wait together to hear the final name

Maybe National Sweetheart can't change. In farm country, it's not enough to just talk about values, you have to live by them. Otherwise, you'd never be able to pull yourself out of bed when the rooster crows.

But wait, now that the rooster has alerted us to the light of a new day, we see something unexpected in the Sweetheart cornfield. We see beautiful girls. Wholesome, shucks! They're as sexy as anybody you ever saw in a casino.

Adrianna Sgarlata of Virginia

Meredith McCanne, Adrielle Churchill, Angela Corsi

After the pageant, Meredith McCannel of Montana and Adrielle Churchill, Miss National Sweetheart, give Angela Corsi of Michigan a lift

And the winner -- wow! Or as they say in the country, "How 'bout!" Her name is Adrielle Churchill (a triumphal name if we ever heard one). She comes from Arkansas, and she's dynamite. We would say more, but we've used up all the exclamation points allotted to us.

Can Vegas beat this? Can anybody beat this? Or will tiny Hoopeston become the pageant capital of America? We would ask another question, but we've used up all our question marks.

Thank you, Mr. Rooster.

Angel Blue of California, winner of the Pat Musk Non-Finalist
Talent Award

Emily Bartha of Oregon

Hilary Griffith of Arizona

The full lineup: Adrielle Churchill of Arkansas was crowned National Sweetheart. The first runner-up was Amanda Kozak of Georgia, and the second runner-up was Emily Willis of Pennsylvania. The third runner-up was Angela Corsi of Michigan. The fourth runner-up was Jamie Ginn of New Jersey. Angel Blue of California won the Pat Musk Non-Finalist Talent Award.