New Miss Ga. bows out, Miss Cobb gets crown

Emily Cook was asleep when she assumed the title of Miss Georgia.

The reigning Miss Cobb County was informed Sunday morning that the previous night’s winner, Gwinnett County schoolteacher Kristina Higgins, had turned down the prize.

“We were heading home to Marietta when we got the call,” said Annie Cook, the new Miss Georgia’s mother.

Higgins had decided she’d rather teach, saying in a statement, “Due to my current job responsibilities as a middle school teacher and the responsibilities and time commitment as Miss Georgia, I have decided to not fulfill the duties of Miss Georgia 2009.”

After digesting the news, Emily Cook told her, “Mom, you need to turn around.”

Miss Georgia’s crown and sash were waiting back in Columbus, scene of Saturday night’s state pageant.

“Her reaction was hilarious,” Annie Cook said. “The thing is we were very happy with runner-up. She was going to get $7,000 to use toward law school (she had been accepted at the University of Georgia).”

Instead she’ll receive a $15,000 cash scholarship, a new Kia and wardrobe for the Miss America pageant in January.

Not bad for someone who entered her first pageant just a year ago.

“She was in the top 15 for Miss UM (University of Miami, where Cook received her bachelor’s degree),” her mother said. “She wore a dress from Ross she had bought for $7.”

Higgins has not returned calls seeking comment.