Her thoughts on title

The Independent talks to Miss America, Katie Stam, about patriotism, guilty pleasures and the role of beauty.

HBI: What does the Fourth of July mean to you?

Stam: Obviously it’s a great holiday for our nation, and so it definitely makes you feel very patriotic. Since this year I get to spend the Fourth of July as a representative of the United States, it definitely has a bigger meaning for me. I think it’s important that we can all have a common goal, a common celebration — I think that it really brings everybody together.

HBI: What do you do on your days off from being Miss America?

Stam: I don’t get days off (laughs). Every once in awhile, I will get a couple of hours here and a couple of hours there. What I really like to do is put on comfortable clothes, hop into bed and put on a good movie, and just try to take as much alone time as possible.

HBI: What’s your favorite “guilty pleasure” food?

Stam: I don’t really have a food, but I love soda. For some reason, I just can’t kick soda. After starting the year, I was drinking lots of soda and coffee, and my caffeine intake was super high. I saw I was drinking way too much caffeine, so I cut out coffee. I haven’t had any coffee for two and a half or three months. But I still haven’t given up soda.

HBI: Do you think you have changed much since becoming Miss America?

Stam: Definitely. I’ve changed in almost every single way possible — not changing as far as my values, but just really improving who I am.

I’ve grown mentally and physically and emotionally, especially emotionally. You kind of grow a thick skin from doing this. I’ve grown spiritually. There are just so many different things. You definitely learn how to relate to people, you improve upon your communication skills. You learn a lot about yourself, as far as your limits, and you learn how to push past your limits.

HBI: What was that moment like when you were announced as the new Miss America? Was it the culmination of years of effort?

Stam: It’s something that I wanted my entire life. To hear my name called, it really was like so many dreams and goals coming true. I don’t even remember what it was like, since I think I blacked out when they started to say “Miss Indiana.”

HBI: If you could add a new competition segment to the Miss America pageant, what would it be?

Stam: That’s fun — I’ve never thought of that before. I can think of two, and they’re two completely different things. I think one aspect of the competition should be a press conference, because one of the things that I have had to do the most as Miss America is deal with the media. I think that definitely would be a great measure of how the girl is ready, because the next thing you do is fly to New York for your media tour. I think it would be a great way to see who is ready for the job, and who is not. The second would be a runway type of thing, with paparazzi. You could see the girls have a little fun. That would make a great show.

HBI: Why don’t we have a Mr. America competition?

Stam: I have seen pageants for men. I’ve never been involved in them, but I do know that they exist. I do not believe that there is a Mr. America. I definitely think that there should be something out there that offers men the same opportunities, because we obviously look for equality in our country, and Miss America affords women millions of dollars every year to further their education. I don’t know if a pageant is the correct choice, but they could do something fun they can really put their heart and soul into.

HBI: What is beauty? And why is it such an enduring value?

Stam: Especially with this job, I have talked about beauty so many times — because it’s a stigma that I fight every day as Miss America, that beauty is all that I have to offer. Beauty is measured so many different ways. As cheesy as it sounds, everybody is beautiful on the inside. … It’s something that I fight every single day, being able to show people my inner beauty. Beauty is best defined as whenever you are confident in yourself; whenever you believe you are a beautiful person on the inside. That’s when people can see your beauty on the outside. I think that that’s true beauty.

Miss America 2009

Name: Katie Stam

Age: 22

Hometown: Seymour, Ind.

Studies: Broadcast journalism and electronic media

Career goal: Television news reporter/anchor

Platform: Promoting community service and involvement