The countdown to the Miss America pageant has begun, and University of Indianapolis senior Katie Stam – also known as Miss Indiana – already has made her national TV debut.
The four-part miniseries “Miss America: Countdown to the Crown” premiered Jan. 2 on TLC and will continue at 10 p.m. EST each Friday leading up to the televised pageant finals on Jan. 24. The reality show, which features all 52 pageant contestants in various team and individual competitions aboard the Queen Mary ocean liner, was taped in September and October.
In the debut episode, the 22-year-old Stam won an impromptu speaking competition. She also was featured prominently in the second episode and has been among the leading vote-getters in unofficial polls on the show’s Web site.
Stam, a UIndy communication major from Seymour, is an award-winning student broadcaster who plans to work in television news and has interned at WTHR and WISH in Indianapolis. Known for her volunteer work, she chose community service as her pageant platform issue, and she will sing in the talent portion of the competition.
She’ll be in Las Vegas from Jan. 15 to 25 for the pageant, and she’ll have plenty of friendly faces around. Approximately 60 relatives and friends are flying out for the occasion.
“I think about half my hometown is going,” she said with laugh. “All my aunts and uncles and grandparents are going. I’m very fortunate to have that kind of support.”
Since the taping of “Countdown,” Stam has been fulfilling her Miss Indiana duties around the state.
“Everything from going to other pageants to speaking, performing, being in parades, lots of neat little events to get me out into the community,” she said.
Her parents, Keith and Tracy Stam of Seymour, are as excited as their daughter.
“It’s almost like they’re living this experience with me,” Katie said.
