BROOKLYN — With a little help from James Brown, a Park Slope woman tap danced her way to a Miss America crown.
Miss New York, Mallory Hagan, 23, took top prize on Saturday, beating out Miss South Carolina and Miss Wyoming, who finished second and third, respectively.
For the talent portion of the event, Hagan tap danced to James Brown's "Get Up."
Hagan won a $50,000 scholarship from the Amway corporation and plans to launch a nationwide tour to promote child welfare and end child abuse, according to the Miss America organization.
Originally from Alabama, Hagan moved to New York in 2008 and studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology, according to her biography.
In 2010, Hagan was crowned Miss Brooklyn and blogged about her experiences wearing that crown.
"Although I'm originally from Alabama, in the time I've spent in New York, Brooklyn has grown very close to my heart," Hagan wrote on her blog days after being crowned Miss Brooklyn. "I love New York (and not in a tourist t-shirt kind of way) dearly and I truly believe this is the city where dreams come true."
