Under the glitzy lights of the Las Vegas casino, a 22-year-old ballerina from Oklahoma was crowned Miss America, but officials hope the problem-plagued pageant will be the real winner.

The pageant was held in Las Vegas for the first time after years of declining interest from its longtime base in Atlantic City, N.J. Without coverage from a major network for the first time since 1954, it aired on Country Music Television.

Even the new Miss America, University of Oklahoma student Jennifer Berry, said she hoped to help the scholarship organization by creating interest and marketing it to a younger crowd – 18-34.

“I hope to have sponsors knocking on our door,” Berry said after winning Saturday night. She also earned a $30,000 college scholarship and a yearlong speaking tour.

Berry wowed the judges by dancing ballet for her talent routine, and pledged to advocate the prevention of drunken driving, a cause she chose because a childhood friend died in an alcohol-related crash at age 16.

“I realized she did not have to die,” Berry said. “She died from a decision, not a disease.”

Berry beat out runner-up Miss Georgia Monica Pang and second runner-up Miss Alabama Alexa Jones. Miss Virginia Kristi Lauren Glakas and Miss District of Columbia Shannon Schambeau rounded out the top five.

Miss Hawaii Malika Dudley won Miss Congeniality, a title resurrected for the first time in 32 years. Miss Hawaii 1974, Coline-Helen Kanaloku Aiu, was the last person to win the title.

“Everyone in Hawaii exudes that spirit – so generous and kind,” Dudley said. “We just all just grow up with that kind of a personality. I’m honored to be part of the tradition that seems to be occurring here.”

The pageant, which dabbled in reality TV-style gimmicks in recent years as it tried to lure viewers, struck a more old-fashioned theme this time.