The annual Miss America Pageant kicked off this weekend and 22-year-old Katie Stam from Indiana proved to be worthy of the coveted crown.

The brunette beauty not only had to fight off 51 other contestants for the prestigious title of Miss America 2009 but she also had to fight off a throat infection and laryngitis – talk about dedication.

Stam, who is currently a student at the University of Indianapolis, wowed judges and viewers when she strutted her fit figure in a classic black bikini for the swimsuit portion of the competition. Katie Stam’s infamous bikini pictures have now surfaced online and quickly becoming an Internet phenomenon.

The bubbly winner won a 50,000 dollar scholarship in which she hopes to use to finish a degree in communications and become a news anchor.

We’re guessing viewership might increase for whichever news station decides to hire this hottie.

Enjoy the bikini photos of Katie Stam below – as well as some other photos of the new queen from Saturday night’s event!

Do you think Katie deserves the title of Miss America 2009?

* Click Photos to Enlarge