KTUU producer heads to Vegas to compete in 2011 Miss America pageant

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — It's a busy life juggling producing newscasts and competing in pageants, but it has paid off for Channel 2 producer Abby Hancock who will be competing in this year's Miss America pageant.

Hancock is heading to Las Vegas as 2010 Miss Alaska and will be representing the state in the 90th anniversary of the Miss America pageant on January 15th.

The Miss Alaska Scholarship Foundation began 58 years ago as part of the Miss America Organization, one of the country's leading scholarship providers.

Hancock says she never imagined she would be on the Miss America stage.

“To be able to go and represent a state like Alaska and to have the amazing support that I've had not just from the people in the organization, but from all Alaskans means a lot,” said Hancock.

This year, for the first time in the history of the pageant, viewers can vote for their favorite contestants on the Miss America website. The contestant with the most votes will win a spot among the finalists.