The difference between the Miss America and Miss USA pageant systems is kind of like the difference between a Broadway jazz dancer and a Fly Girl dancing onstage with J.Lo.

Women parade in swimsuits in both competitions, sure. But pictures of state winners on the Miss USA Web site tend to bare, well, a little more cleavage, and unlike Miss America contestants don't spend hours practicing their violins. Miss USA doesn't have a talent competition.

But while old-school Miss America stalwarts may wrinkle their noses at Miss USA, the two pageants seem to be rubbing elbows lately.

Kristi Glakas won crowns as 1999 Miss Virginia Teen USA and the 2004 Miss Virginia USA before being named Miss Virginia on Saturday night.

On Sunday, Glakas was guided through the morning-after responsibilities of winning Miss Virginia (like being handed keys to a 2005 Mercury Sable that she gets to use for her reign) by Jennifer Pitts, who wore the Miss Virginia 2002 crown before growing out her hair and being named Miss Virginia USA 2005.

"They're very different pageants. But I think one person can be both," Glakas said. "It really was invaluable to what I did here this week."

In the midst of Sunday's mayhem, Glakas sat down on a sofa in the Hotel Roanoke to talk about herself and her newest tiara:

Q: Did you sleep in your crown?

A: It sat right on my nightstand.

Q: Several of this year's contests have vied for the Miss Virginia crown more than once. Did they resent competing with a Miss USA interloper?

A: I'm a real person. I had fun with these girls. ... There wasn't the competitiveness that you usually find.

Q: Let's play "What's your favorite ..."

Q: Color?

A: Teal.

Q: Movie?

A: "O' Brother, Where Art Thou?"

Q: Music?

A: [Christian artist] Nichole Nordeman

Q: What do you like to do when you're not in school, or preparing for pageants or working with organizations on substance abuse prevention?

A: I love to go out to eat. My boyfriend spoils me. Sushi. Japanese. They know our order when we go to the Mexican restaurant.

I love to be with my family. We love to eat together. We're Greek. We eat everything.

Q: Who's made the best Batman?

A: I haven't seen one of them [the "Batman" movies]. Christian Bale probably made a pretty good Batman.

Q: You celebrated your two-year anniversary with your boyfriend last night. He must be pretty excited about dating a woman with more than one tiara.

A: He's very supportive of me putting this first.

Q: ABC dropped the Miss America pageant this fall because of low ratings. The organization still hasn't announced when this year's pageant will take place and whether or not it's found a new home on television. Do you think the pageant will survive?

A: I don't think Miss America is in any danger at all. The country right now is going through an obsession with stardom. Miss America celebrates true beauty instead of Paris Hilton beauty.

That's what's right. That's morally sound. That'll pull them through.

Q: Women who compete in pageants often adopt a style very different from mainstream fashion trends: big, retro, well-hairsprayed 'dos, lots of make-up and a general fondness for flower-print capris with heels. You seem to have a more modern look, with everything from your hair, to the strapless, black gown, to your more natural approach to make-up. How will that go over in the Miss America pageant, particularly since the event has taken heat in the last year for being too old-fashioned.

A: I'm a fresh kind of face for them. I can't teach kids to love who they are if I'm covering myself up. You can't hide ugliness. If you're beautiful on the inside, you're beautiful on the outside.

Q: What's going to be the best part of spending the year as Miss Virginia?

A: I haven't thought of it yet. I think it's going to be amazing to step away from my life: not to go to school, not to have a job, but spend 365 days a year impacting Virginia's youth.

Q: If you could use your crown to meet anyone, who would it be?

A: Condoleezza Rice. She's the embodiment of the American dream. ... She's an example of true beauty for sure.

Q: Virginia ham or Virginia peanuts?

A: Ham. I'm a carnivore.