Las Vegas Weekly

March 17, 2010 · 10:57 AM

Photos: 2010 Miss America returns home for first time since crowning

By Robin Leach

2010 Miss America Caressa Cameron returns home to Virginia for the first time since being crowned at Planet Hollywood in January.

Photo: Miss America Organization

For the first time since being crowned 2010 Miss America back in January here at Planet Hollywood, Caressa Cameron finally returned home -- and the red carpet was rolled out across Virginia! Caressa’s first task was to crown the new Miss Virginia Chinah Helmandollar, who takes over the title from Caressa.

Highlights of Caressa’s first day home included a visit to students at an elementary school, where she stressed the importance of always doing the right thing and shared with them ways that they could make good choices that would positively affect their lives. Her homecoming evening was spent at a reception with Miss Virginia’s Miss America officials, and then she returned home to pack her one traveling suitcase again from Jan. 29 here in Las Vegas.

The next day, as ambassador for the Children’s Miracle Network, Fredericksburg native Caressa visited Carilion Children’s Hospital to meet with children and their parents. Then at an evening party with friends, she talked about her first six weeks as Miss America. A gala/paparazzi party was held at Taubman Museum of Art, where Caressa spoke and sang to guests who included 1979 Miss America Kylene Barker, 1999 Miss America Nicole Johnson and past Miss Virginias.

On her fourth and final day, she spoke at the Shenandoah Club, which donated the proceeds to CMN. Later at the Hotel Roanoke, several hundred people came to Caressa’s autograph session. Her concluding gala again featured Kylene and Nicole as emcees, and Caressa sang again. Also present was Caressa’s homecoming court, which included 2009 Miss California Kristy Cavinder, 2009 Miss Louisiana Katherine Putnam and 2009 Miss Kentucky Mallory Ervin.

Everyone agreed that it had been a wonderful homecoming week, and all the galas had been extraordinarily successful. Then it was time for Caressa to hit the road again with her 20,000-mile-a-month itinerary. She said she’ll be back in Las Vegas within the next three months.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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