Miss Va. Is New Miss America

A 22-year-old Virginia woman who said she once thought her only talent was singing is the nation's newest Miss America. Caressa Cameron, the first black Miss America since 2005, is a broadcast journalism student at Virginia Commonwealth University with an eye on a master's degree and becoming a news anchor. "I hope to gain inspiration, I hope to gain momentum so that when this 365 days is over, I can shoot through the moon," Cameron said. Miss California Kristy Cavinder was first runner-up.

Cameron won the title and a $50,000 scholarship last night after strutting in a skintight yellow dress, belting Beyoncé's "Listen" from Dreamgirls, and advising parents to limit video games and TV when asked about childhood obesity. Cameron won her state's title on her fourth try, and said she saw pageantry as a way to raise money and awareness for her platform issue, AIDS awareness. When asked about gay marriage during last year's Miss Virginia pageant, Cameron said she believed marriage should be between a man and woman because of her religious beliefs, but didn't think there should be laws against it. (More Miss America stories.)