2012 Miss Georgia crowned

COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) A 19-year-old Georgia State University student from Suwanee has been crowned Miss Georgia.

Leighton Jordan won the statewide pageant Saturday night in Columbus. She won a $15,000 scholarship and a chance to compete in the Miss America pageant in January.

Jordan beat out 32 other contestants for the crown with a ballet routine. She is studying nursing and wants to become a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner. Jordan was previously crowned Miss Capital City.

She will travel the state over the next year promoting support for special needs children and their siblings.

The first runner-up in the pageant was Miss Georgia Cotton, Carly Mathis, and the second runner-up was Miss Atlanta, Briana Jewett. The third runner-up was Miss Peachtree, Lauren Edmonds, and the fourth runner-up was Miss Gwinnett County, Annie Walker.