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July 1, 2011

ULM's Hope Anderson hits stride in first week as new Miss Louisiana

University of Louisiana at Monroe graduate Hope Anderson (B.A., '10) hit her stride during her first week as the newly crowned Miss Louisiana 2011.

She said she was running on just a few hours of sleep each night, but was still fueled by much positive adrenaline since becoming the state's new title holder last Saturday, June 25.

"Hopefully tonight I'll finally catch up on some rest," she said on Tuesday, with a smile.

Among her many appearances over the last several days, Anderson shared a few moments with Jay Curtis, programming director of KEDM Public Radio, in an interview for "ULM Forum," which airs at 12:06 p.m. Friday, July 1, on KEDM 90.3 FM.

Anderson told Curtis she was looking forward to "getting in shape" for the Miss America Pageant, which will be held in January in Las Vegas.

She also joked about needing a social media director just to keep up with the messages posted on her Facebook page after becoming the new Miss Louisiana.

Anderson was crowned Miss Louisiana 2011 by Miss Louisiana 2010 Kelsi Crain, a ULM junior, at the Monroe Civic Center.

Anderson, 22, served as Miss ULM 2009 and earned her degree in Mass Communication in December 2010.

Anderson hopes to eventually complete a Master of Arts in Communication, with a concentration in health communications, from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.

Anderson said that women of all ages can relate to her platform, "Love the Skin You're In," which is about being the "best you can be."

Anderson also spoke to her concern for the Children's Miracle Network, a non-profit organization that raises money for hundreds of Children's Hospitals across the country and which serves as the national platform of the Miss American Organization.

Anderson is the third consecutive ULM student to be crowned Miss Louisiana.

ULM's Kelsi Crain was Miss Louisiana 2010, and Katherine Putnam was Miss Louisiana 2009.

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