Katie Stam Irk
Stam at Fort Meade in 2009
Born (1986-07-09) July 9, 1986
Seymour, Indiana
Alma materSeymour High School
University of Indianapolis
TitleIndiana's Junior Miss 2005
Miss Duneland 2008
Miss Indiana 2008
Miss America 2009
PredecessorKirsten Haglund
SuccessorCaressa Cameron
Spouse
Brian Irk
​
(m. 2010)​
Children3
Websitehttp://www.katiestam.com/

Katie R. Stam Irk (born July 9, 1986; née. Stam) is an American beauty queen from Seymour, Indiana, who was crowned Miss America 2009.[1]

Early life and education

Stam was born to Keith and Tracy Stam, both middle school teachers, on July 9, 1986, in southern Indiana.[2][3] Stam grew up on a dairy farm with her three siblings.[2][4] She participated in 4-H as a child and showed dairy cattle at the Jackson County Fair.[5]

Stam graduated from Seymour High School in Seymour, Indiana, and later received her bachelor's degree in communication studies from the University of Indianapolis.[6] Stam also interned at the Indianapolis news station, WTHR, in 2007.[7]

Pageantry

Stam began competing in pageants at the age of 15, winning a local title before being named Kentuckiana Teen and advancing and winning her first national pageant. She later won Indiana's Junior Miss in 2005, and was named second runner-up at the 2005 America's Junior Miss competition.[7]

Miss Indiana 2008

In November 2007, Stam won the local Miss Duneland title (Michigan City, Indiana). She competed in the Miss Indiana pageant for the first time during June 2008, and was crowned Miss Indiana.[8] For her state talent she performed "Art Is Calling Me."[9]

Miss America 2009

Miss America: Countdown to the Crown

On this TLC reality series, viewers followed the 52 Miss America contestants vying for the Miss America 2009 crown.[10] Viewers then had the opportunity to vote online for a contestant to help them earn a "Golden Sash", signifying a secured spot in the top 15. Stam was the first to receive a "Golden Sash" during the first episode.[11]

Preliminary competition

In the week prior to the televised pageant Stam won a preliminary swimsuit award.[12] Additionally, the three previous Miss Americas, Miss America 2006, Jennifer Berry, Miss America 2007, Lauren Nelson, and Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund, had predicted prior to the pageant that Stam would win the Miss America crown.[13]

Miss America 2009, Katie Stam signing autographs for fans
Stam making an appearance in a parade (2009)

Miss America telecast

The Miss America 2009 pageant was broadcast live on TLC from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 24, 2009. For her talent, Stam sang "Via Dolorosa" despite suffering from a throat infection.[14]

At the conclusion of the telecast, Stam beat out first runner-up Miss Georgia 2008, Chastity Hardman, for the title of Miss America 2009 and was crowned by Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund.[14] With this win she became the first Miss Indiana to claim the Miss America title.[14][15] Along with the title of Miss America, she won a $50,000 scholarship.

In interviews held after her winning the Miss America crown, Stam expressed interest in completing her bachelor's degree in communication at the University of Indianapolis and seeking a career as a television news reporter and anchor after her reign.[16]

Miss America role

Her platform was "Passion for Service: Promoting Community Service and Involvement."[17][18] As Miss America, Stam traveled approximately 20,000 miles each month promoting and speaking on her platform of community service and acted as the official National Goodwill Ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network.[16]

On Thanksgiving Day 2009, Stam served food at the New York Rescue Mission, and also appeared on a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the first Miss America to do so in nearly a decade.[3][19]

Stam met President Obama through a joint meeting with the Children's Miracle Network Hospital Champions at the White House.[20]

Personal life

In January 2010, Stam's boyfriend, Brian Irk, proposed to her.[21] They married in July 2010.[22]

Katie Stam Irk gave birth to daughter, Charlotte Bell, in August 2013, a second daughter named Rose Lee Esther was born in May 2015.[23][24]

On October 31, 2016, she gave birth to a son, whose name was determined by the outcome of the 2016 World Series. Stam Irk's husband is a Chicago Cubs fan. So when the couple found out she was pregnant, they decided that if the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, their son would be named Wrigley. If the Cleveland Indians won, then he would be named Oliver.[25] Their son remained unnamed for three days, until the Cubs beat the Indians in Game 7 on November 3, 2016, and he was given the name Wrigley Oliver.[25][26]

References

  1. ↑ "Pageantry Interview: Miss America: Katie Stam". www.pageantrymagazine.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  2. 1 2 Bauman, Michelle (March 26, 2009). "Miss America takes mission message home". Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Olaksy, Marvin. "Serving with Miss America". WORLD. 19 December 2009. p. 88.
  4. ↑ "Women in Agriculture". Farm Indiana. Home News Enterprises. January 29, 2014. p. B6(22). Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  5. ↑ Kickl, Chris (September 22, 2009). "Stam puts stamp on 4-H, dairy farming". The Daily Record. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Katie Stam: More Than a Pretty Face". CBN. The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Seymour's Katie Stam wins Miss America". WTHR.com. January 25, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Miss Indiana Pageant". Archived from the original on 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  9. ↑ Iden, Terry. "History | Miss Indiana". Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  10. ↑ "Does Getting to Know the Contestants Make You Care About Miss America?". POPSUGAR. January 9, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Born to wear the crown". University of Indianapolis-Reflector. February 4, 2009. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Delaware, Indiana win in Miss America preliminary". Associated Press. 2009-01-21.
  13. ↑ "Miss Indiana Katie Stam is crowned 2009 Miss America; Miss Georgia is first runner-up". Las Vegas Sun. January 24, 2009.
  14. 1 2 3 "Indiana student ill, but wins Miss America crown". Associated Press. 2009-01-24.
  15. ↑ "ENT-Miss America". The Canadian Press - Broadcast wire. 2009-01-25.
  16. 1 2 "Miss Indiana Katie Stam Wins 2009 Miss America Pageant". Discovery Press Web. January 24, 2009.
  17. ↑ "Miss Indiana Katie Stam Wins 2009 Miss America Pageant" (Press release). PR Newswire. 2009-01-24.
  18. ↑ Garcia, Oskar (2009-01-25). "Miss America says she dreamed of crown her whole life, but its job description lured her, too". Associated Press.
  19. ↑ "Who Killed Miss America?". EW.com. January 30, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Miss America 2009 Katie Stam Joins Children's Miracle Network to Meet with President Obama". Miss America Organization. March 25, 2009. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Engaged! 2009 Miss America Katie Stam's boyfriend proposes". Las Vegas Sun. January 29, 2010. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  22. ↑ Chareunsy, Don (July 26, 2010). "2009 Miss America Katie Stam and Brian Irk tie the knot". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  23. ↑ "News Reports from the World of Pageantry". Pageantry Magazine. United States: 12. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Miss Indiana / Miss America, Katie Stam joins The Fun Factor Band!". Artist Development Company. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  25. 1 2 "Former Miss America loses bet, husband names son Wrigley after Cubs win". Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Chicago Cubs win World Series championship with 8-7 victory over Cleveland Indians". Chicago Tribune. November 3, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
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