A DEMOCRAT IN PAGEANT PLACE

The new Miss USA, Crystle Stewart of Texas, in her first official interview after winning the title, told an Associated Press reported that she said she was eager to travel and spread her message of self-improvement to young women. She noted she was one of only a handful of black woman crowned Miss USA in the pageant's 57-year history.

"I think the United States is coming together," she said, citing the historic presidential candidacies of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. She declined to name her preference."I don't know, we'll see. Fundamentally, I'm a Democrat," she said.

Beauty School's Young Democrats Club hopes to bring Crystle to the Catalina Swimsuit Fashion Pavilion for a fashion show and fundraiser, and annoint her honorary Club president. It is interesting to note that membership in Beauty School's Young Democrats Club is three times as large as membership in the Young Republicans Club, whose most recent honorary Club president was Erika Harold, Miss America 2003.

Go, Crystle! Most U.S. beauty queens do not declare their political party affiliation, and we applaud your forthrightness. There will definitely be a Democrat in Pageant Place this year!