OPELIKA, AL (WTVM) -
The city of Opelika is celebrating the victory of one of its own at the Miss America Pageant this weekend.
Opelika native Mallory Hagan represented the Big Apple in the Miss America Pageant, and won!
News Leader 9's Annie Hubbell spoke to friends close to Mallory on Monday, and they say the past two days have been a whirlwind for her.
The Opelika High School graduate has been going non-stop since being crowned Miss America Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Monday morning, Mallory appeared on Good Morning America where she said she was "shocked amazed, and humbled" by Saturday's results.
Here in Opelika, excited friends and family say they have watched Hagan on this journey, and there is not one person who deserves this honor more.
"You would never know that she would ever consider doing something like this, but she has always wanted it," said Tricia Skelton, a friend of Mallory's. "I remember when I first met her and she was doing a competition for Miss Alabama and I went to see her do that and she just beamed. Its like another person came out, but she's totally humble at the same time."
Hagan graduated from Opelika High School in 2007 and moved to New York with a thousand dollars in her pocket.
She is about to graduate with a degree in marketing paid for by jobs she has held since she was 14 and her scholarship earnings from Miss America.
News Leader 9 had an exclusive interview with Mallory last week before she hit the stage. She said that even though she would be representing New York Saturday night, Opelika is still carried close to her heart.
Coming up tonight at 11, hear more from Hagan's loved ones and about her journey to the crown.
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