Urbandale woman crowned Miss Iowa U.S.A.

A journalism major at the University of Iowa was crowned last night in Cedar Rapids as the new Miss Iowa U-S-A. 20-year-old Linsey Grams of Urbandale couldn’t believe she beat out 87 other young ladies from across the Hawkeye State to claim the title. It was the first pageant she’d ever competed in and Grams was so stunned, she thought first runner-up Danielle Day, of Burlington, was the new queen of Iowa. The six-foot-tall blonde enjoys creative writing, poetry, singing and hopes to someday become a T-V broadcaster like her father. Grams says she’ll take away plenty from the pageant — more self-confidence, dozens of new friends, and a pile of scholarship money. She says she’s proud to be able to showcase Iowa to the nation. She says all the people in Iowa are friendlier than people in other states, and that’s the attitude she’ll take with her in representing the state.Grams will represent Iowa in the national Miss U-S-A pageant this spring.