Miss Shreveport Katherine Putnam, the oldest of six children, was crowned Miss Louisiana 2009 on Saturday night at the Civic Center in Monroe, Louisiana.

The new Miss Louisiana thanked God as she tried to come to the realization that she in fact had won the 2009 title.

“It’s so surreal — I can hardly believe it,” Putnam said. “I worked so hard and had the support of so many wonderful people. I am so thankful to God.”

“Yes, I have been training for the Miss America pageant since I started the Miss Louisiana pageants — so I’m ready to go,” she said. “Let’s go to Las Vegas!”

In January, Putnam will compete for the Miss America crown in Las Vegas.

Top Miss Louisiana Pageant Finishers

• 1st Runner Up - Hope Anderson (Miss Louisiana Monroe)
• 2nd Runner Up - Kenley Minchew (Miss Lafayette)
• 3rd Runner Up - Courtney Haynes (Miss Natchitoches)
• 4th Runner Up - Joy Thomason (Miss Port City)

Read More about the 2009 Miss Louisiana Pageant (Monroe News Star)