She became Miss Massachusetts in June, previously reigning as Miss Bay State in 2003, Miss Fall River in 2004, Miss Quincy Bay in 2005 and Miss Southeast earlier this year.

Though she wears her crown well, it's not something the city native and art teacher ever imagined she'd be doing. She's more accustomed to bopping around on the soccer field or taking brush to canvas.

Gagne has Long QT Syndrome, a heart arrhythmia that is activated by physical activity. While she was a B.M.C. Durfee High School senior - she graduated in 2000 - Gagne was diagnosed with the disorder. She said she was feeling dizzy on the soccer field and doctors found she was genetically predisposed to the condition.

Her dream to play college soccer was dashed. Gagne had a defibrillator implanted into her heart. But her need to compete would not abate, and so began her beauty queen career.

Though she didn't envision winning so many pageants - "I don't even wear make-up often," said Gagne - she found she was a natural and is now a big supporter of the Miss America Organization, the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance to young women.

Last year, it provided some $45 million in cash and scholarships to pageant contestants. Gagne plans to use any funding to help her pay for student loans.

Currently, she works as an art teacher at St. Vincent's Home. When she's not working, she paints. She has a love for African art, and is also working on a series of paintings to pay tribute to her late aunt, who died of cancer.

She has a master's degree in art therapy and mental health counseling from Lesley College, and a bachelor's degree in art and psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Her pageant platform will be heart health. She is a national spokeswoman for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign. With heart disease ranking as the No. 1 killer of women, it's a topic Gagne hopes to education women about.

For the talent portion of the pageant, she will sing "Bye, Bye Blackbird." Gagne has only been singing for a couple of years, and took lessons just last year.

Denise Gagne said the whole pageant experience has been fun for both mother and daughter. They're very close and spend lots of time pageant shopping. Denise Gagne is currently making her daughter a beaded necklace to match one of her pageant gowns.

"The night she won, I barely remember," said Denise Gagne. "I have only a vague memory of her being crowned. [Later, I thought] I'm the mother of Miss Massachusetts."

The Miss America Pageant will take place in Las Vegas at the Aladdin Resort & Casino. Pageant preliminaries, which include swimsuit, talent and evening wear competitions, will run from Jan. 25 to Jan. 27. The two-hour pageant will air live on the Country Music Channel Jan. 29 at 8 p.m.

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