“GI Jill” Stevens = “America’s Choice”

Jill Stevens, Miss Utah, an Army medic who served in Afghanistan, was selected by the public as “America’s Choice” for Miss America.

Unfortunately, the judge’s thought otherwise.

No wonder, as the AP reports,“The fading institution has struggled to find a television home since being dropped from network television in 2004.”

Producers had hoped a new confident attitude would show through on the catwalks, and Miss Utah, Jill Stevens, an Army medic who served in Afghanistan, didn't disappoint.

"Home of the country's highest birth rate - as long as the Osmonds don't move," she announced.

Miss Utah didn't make it to the final 10, but she took the disappointment with pluck. When her name was called, she dropped and gave the audience push ups before joining the other losers.

Stevens however was selected "America's Choice," based on voting via text messages from viewers of a reality show that was designed to make over the beauty queens and draw in a younger audience.

Of course, Jim Hoft has all the pictures that matter.