Published: April 19, 2009 02:22 am      

Three Rivers Queen tries for Miss USA crown

FAIRMONT — When Jessi Pierson was crowned as the West Virginia Three Rivers Festival Queen in Fairmont last year, the Marshall University graduate could not have known how much that crown would change her life.

In just one year, Pierson has gone from the stage at Fairmont State University to Planet Hollywood Theater in Las Vegas, Nev., for the 2009 Miss America Pageant.

You can see Pierson representing the Mountain State tonight starting at 7 p.m. as the Miss America Pageant is broadcast worldwide on NBC.

Pierson, 21, is the daughter of Brett and Kristi Pierson of Milton. In addition to studying elementary education, she is involved with Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Baptist Campus Ministries and student teaching. She has also volunteered for the MS Walk, Food Pantry and the Think Pink Fashion Show.

She describes herself as congenial, compassionate, and a Christian. Some of her hobbies include fishing, traveling to New York City to shop, working out and playing tag with her puppy. She says she is most proud of making the dean’s list every semester and graduating early.

In October, the West Virginia Three Rivers Festival sponsored Pierson’s bid for Miss West Virginia, and now several of the festival’s supporters are there in Las Vegas with Pierson for the Miss USA Pageant.

At the Miss West Virginia Pageant, Pierson was also named Miss Photogenic and voted Miss Congeniality.

“I always wanted to be ‘that girl’ on stage who was confident and beautiful,” Pierson recently said. “When I won Miss West Virginia, I was completely shocked and overwhelmed with excitement. I had hoped so badly that I would win, but I was ready to congratulate the other girl.”

For updates and photos of Pierson participating in the Miss USA Pageant, log onto www.pageantassoicates.com

“Access Hollywood” co-host Billy Bush along with “My Name is Earl” star Nadine Velazquez will host the live telecast of the 58th Annual Miss USA Pageant from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

According to a release from the Miss Universe Organization, the judges featured tonight are: Robert Earl, owner and co-chairman of Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino; Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey; co-host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Willie Geist; President of Entertainment, MTV Networks Music Channels, Brian Graden; star of “Days of our Lives,” Shelley Hennig; the internet’s most notorious celebrity gossip columnist Perez Hilton; “Access Hollywood” contributor and KVBC News Entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs; “Deal or No Deal” model and star of “The Celebrity Apprentice,” Claudia Jordan; John Miller,Chief Marketing Officer, NBC Universal; Kelly Monaco, season one celebrity winner of “Dancing With the Stars,”; comedian and cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” Kenan Thompson; and Eric Trump, Executive Vice President, Development & Acquisitions of The Trump Organization.