Pollard makes top 15 at Miss America

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (WLFI) - A new Miss America has been crowned. Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron took home the title.

Miss Indiana, Lafayette native Nicole Pollard, made it to the top 15.

Pollard is a graduate of Lafayette Jefferson High School and Indiana University. Her talent is singing.

"I grew up singing here in the Lafayette community, so I started out in what was formerly the Lafayette Children's Chorus and it's now the Bach Chorale Children's Choir," said Pollard.

Pollard began competing in pageants at the age of 17. As a teen, she started to notice young girls struggling with eating disorders. That is why Pollard made her platform the prevention and awareness of eating disorders.

"As a woman, we all have those days where we are not happy with ourselves. If we can really encourage self love and self respect, then hopefully that will be one way that we can really start to appreciate ourselves," said Pollard.

Before Pollard left for the competition she said, "I'm just excited to go out there. None of us have ever walked into a situation like this, because you can't compete in Miss America twice, so all 53 of us are walking into the exact same situation."

The Miss America Pageant was held at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.