Mallory Hagan Wins Miss America 2013: Miss New York Takes The Crown, $50,000, And Celebrity Status [Photo]

Mallory Hagan is the 23-year-old woman to win Miss America. In an interview with "Good Morning America" the newly crowned beauty said that she went to school and worked full time before becoming Miss New York.

The Brooklyn resident grew up in Alabama before moving to New York city, "I needed to find myself," she once told Tina Gunnels, a neighbor from Opelika, Alabama. During the pageant platform, Hagan talked about child sex abuse issues and her concerns and also wanted to bring awareness by educating and advocating throughout her reign.

While standing as the final two, Hagan thought she had lost the run as her father, Phil Hagan stood watching, "They're going to get another first runner-up photo of me," but Phil thought otherwise, "We're super excited, super exhilarated, super proud of her," Phil told The Associated Press, "We're not extremely surprised, either."

Hagan had competed before but never won at a state or national level in 10 years. After moving when she was only 18-years-old, Hagan tried for Miss New York in 2010 and 2011. Arriving to the "Big Apple" with only $1000 to her name, the young teenager at the time had struggle of staying financially afloat, "The struggle was vast," she said. "There were days when I had five bucks in my pocket. And I would push that $5." Hagan added, "I just knew that the energy of NYC was something that I really loved," she told the AP. "I was always a little more liberal-thinking than my hometown. And I just knew that I needed to get out for a little bit, and I needed to find myself."

The lucky American queen won $50,000 college scholarship and celebrity status along with her noble shiny crown.