WILMINGTON, N.C. ? Wilmington resident Kristen Dalton, who won the Miss USA title on April 19 in Las Vegas, will be honored briefly Thursday afternoon (May 28) in the Golden Hawk Room of the William P. Nixon, Jr., Annex.

      Dalton grew up in Wilmington and attended UNCW, and will appear from 4-4:15 p.m. before embarking on other appearances. The blue-eyed blonde captured the Miss North Carolina USA crown last November.

      Dalton, 22, comes from a family that is familiar with pageants. Her mother, Jeannie Boger, was Miss North Carolina USA in 1982, and her sister, Julia, was Miss North Carolina Teen USA in 2008.

      The 5-7 beauty will represent the USA at the 2009 Miss Universe pageant on Aug. 23 at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas.

      The event is free and open to everyone.