Miss Nebraska wins 2011 Miss America pageant

LAS VEGAS - A 17-year-old from Nebraska is the youngest winner of the Miss America crown since 1921 after beating 52 young women from across the United States.

Teresa Scanlan won a $50,000 scholarship and a yearlong run with the crown at the competition Saturday night at the Planet Hollywood casino and resort in Las Vegas.

Miss Arkansas Alyse Eady won $25,000 as first runner-up, while Miss Hawaii Jalee Fuselier won $20,000 for third place.

It was the pageant's 90th anniversary.

Judges had picked Miss Oklahoma Emoly West; Miss Texas Ashley Melnick; Miss Rhode Island Deborah Saint-Vil; Miss Utah Christina Lowe; Miss Washington Jacquie Brown; Miss Arizona Kathryn Bulkley; Miss Virginia Caitlin Uze; Miss California Arianna Afsar, Fuselier, Eady and Scanlan as finalists.

Fans voted in Miss New York Claire Buffie and Miss Delaware Kayla Martell.

And in a first-ever twist for the contest, the young women picked two finalists themselves, Miss Kentucky Djuan Trent and Miss Oregon Stephenie Denise Steers.

But Rhode Island's Saint-Vil, Utah's Lowe and Oregon's Steers were quickly eliminated after the swimsuit competition.

The contestants - from every state plus the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico - started the show by dancing up the aisles while wearing silver cocktail dresses.

Fifty-three women vied for the Miss America crown, an honor that carries with it a $50,000 scholarship and a yearlong run as an idol to many young girls throughout the country.

Miss America 2010 Caressa Cameron crowned winner after a two-hour competition televised live nationally on ABC.

After an opening number, hosts Brooke Burke and Chris Harrison announced 16 finalists, including one chosen by fans through online and mobile phone voting. The girls then competed in swimsuit, evening gown, talent and interview competitions, and a panel of judges picked the winner.

The competition is the finale of a week of preliminary contests, with each queen having already won her state crown.The $50,000 top prize is among $349,000 in prizes given by the Miss America Organization at the national level.

The organization bills itself as the country's largest scholarship provider for women.

Each of the contestants was guaranteed at least $3,000, with the first runner-up receiving $25,000 and third place winner getting $20,000.