Katie Stam

Katie R. Stam Irk (née Stam) is an American beauty queen from Seymour, Indiana, who won the title of Miss America 2009. Her victory marked the first time a representative from Indiana claimed the national Miss America title.

Stam was born on July 9, 1986, in southern Indiana to middle school teachers Keith and Tracy Stam. Growing up on a dairy farm with three siblings, she participated in 4-H as a child and showed dairy cattle at the Jackson County Fair. She graduated from Seymour High School and earned a bachelor's degree in communication studies from the University of Indianapolis. During her college years, she interned at the Indianapolis news station WTHR in 2007.

Her pageantry career began at age 15 when she won a local title, later securing the Kentuckiana Teen title and her first national pageant victory. In 2005, she won Indiana's Junior Miss and placed as second runner-up at America's Junior Miss. Stam won the local Miss Duneland title in November 2007 and competed in her first Miss Indiana pageant in June 2008, winning the crown after performing "Art Is Calling Me" for her talent segment.

Prior to the Miss America telecast, Stam appeared on the TLC reality series "Miss America: Countdown to the Crown," becoming the first contestant to receive a "Golden Sash" securing a top 15 spot via online voting. She also won a preliminary swimsuit award. On January 24, 2009, at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, she performed the song "Via Dolorosa" despite suffering from a throat infection. Stam was crowned Miss America 2009 and awarded a $50,000 scholarship, defeating first runner-up Chastity Hardman.

During her reign, Stam promoted her platform, "Passion for Service: Promoting Community Service and Involvement," traveling roughly 20,000 miles per month. She served as the official National Goodwill Ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network, through which she met President Barack Obama at the White House. On Thanksgiving Day 2009, she served food at the New York Rescue Mission and appeared on a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Following her reign, she expressed interest in working as a television news reporter and anchor.

In July 2010, Stam married Brian Irk. The couple has three children: two daughters born in August 2013 and May 2015, and a son born on October 31, 2016. Her husband is a Chicago Cubs fan, and the couple agreed to name their son after the outcome of the 2016 World Series. Following the Cubs' victory, their son was named Wrigley Oliver.