Friends Battle for Miss America Crown

Miss Texas, Miss New Mexico both attend UNT

Two University of North Texas students Nicole Miner and Kristen Blair are heading to Las Vegas to compete against each other in the Miss America Pageant.

Nicole Miner will represent New Mexico, and Kristen Blair will represent Texas in the competition that begins next week in Las Vegas.

The women have been friends throughout their time on the Denton college campus. They have taken classes together and visited each other's apartments.

Both women joked about competing against each other when they learned they were competing in smaller, local pageants on their way to the Miss America pageant.

"Wouldn't it be cool if you won Miss New Mexico and I won Miss Texas, and we went to Miss America together?" Blair recalled telling Miner.

Last summer, that dream became a reality when each woman won her respective state title.

Miner, who is from Albuquerque, N.M., is a senior majoring in music education.

Blair is from Southlake and is a junior majoring in vocal performance.

Both women said their friendship will carry on throughout the competition -- regardless of who wins.

"If we're ever feeling a little lonely, we can always count on each other," said Miner.

A total of 53 women will compete in the preliminaries, which begin on Jan. 26. The finals take place Jan. 30 at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

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