LAS VEGAS — Miss Indiana Katie Stam was crowned Miss America 2009 in Las Vegas on Saturday night, fighting off a throat infection, laryngitis and 51 other contestants to win the 88-year-old pageant’s title.

The 22-year-old University of Indianapolis student became the first Miss America winner from the Hoosier State. She drew loud applause for her rendition of “Via Dolorosa” during the talent portion of the beauty pageant at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Austin’s Own Angela McDermott competed in the pageant as Miss Minnesota.

Stam said she had trouble sleeping one night during the week while she took prescription medicine to fight the infection, but had her voice back by Thursday.

“I was feeling like myself again — I will never take my health for granted,” Stam said.

The Seymour native strutted onstage in a black bikini and an off-the-shoulder, white lace evening gown.

During the interview portion of the competition she decried the use of performance-enhancing drugs among professional athletes and discussed the definition of glamour.

“That beauty that you feel on the inside, it’s that confidence, that radiance inside of you, that’s what glamour is,” Stam said.

Stam, who won a $50,000 scholarship, hopes to obtain a bachelor’s degree in communications with a goal of becoming a television news anchor. She began competing in pageants at age 15.

Stam was crowned by reigning Miss America Kirsten Haglund of Michigan and will soon embark on a year of travel and public appearances.

Stam said she had one semester left in school — but didn’t know when she would finish — and already was graduating debt free without the $50,000 prize. Stam said she might use the money for graduate school.

The first runner-up was Miss Georgia Chasity Hardman, who took home a $25,000 scholarship.

The 52 young women took to the stage in blue jeans, bikinis and ballgowns following a mini-reality series on pageant prep work and a week of preliminary competition.

After an opening dance number and the traditional parade of states, judges and fans of the Miss America pageant immediately trimmed the field to 15 finalists. Five more finalists were trimmed based on swimsuit and evening gown competitions, while the remaining 10 went on to showcase their dancing, singing and other skills during the talent portion of the pageant.

“This gown nearly blinds people,” Miss Arkansas Ashlen Batson said in a video clip played as she walked onstage in a silver dress with beading. Batson was eliminated before she could play her flute in the talent competition.

Miss Hawaii Nicole Fox drew cheers as she performed a traditional Tahitian dance, wearing a huge white feathered headdress and skirt to match. After she exited, part of the 23-year-old’s skirt remained on the stage. In a new twist this year, viewers of a lead-in reality show, “Miss America: Countdown to the Crown” voted in four of the finalists to the top 15, while the judges announced the other 11 contestants during a live TLC television broadcast.

The four finalists chosen by viewers were Stam, the eventual winner, and Hardman, the first runner-up, as well as Miss South Dakota Alexandra Hoffman and Miss Alabama Amanda Tapley.

The other 11 women remaining after the opening number were: Batson, Fox, Miss Michigan Ashlee Baracy, Miss Delaware Galen Giaccone, Miss District of Columbia Kate Marie Grinold, Miss Iowa Olivia Myers, Miss New York Leigh-Taylor Smith, Miss California Jackie Geist, Miss Florida Sierra Minott, Miss Kentucky Emily Cox and Miss Tennessee Ellen Carrington.