Columbus — A Columbus woman was crowned Miss Georgia 2008 on Saturday.

Chasity Hardman is the second African-American to represent Georgia in January's Miss America pageant in Las Vegas.

Mike Haskey, The Ledger-Enquirer/AP (ENLARGE)

Chasity Hardman is crowned as the new 2008 Miss Georgia by Leah Massee, Miss Georgia 2007, Saturday in Columbus.

Miss Georgia pageant spokesman Billy Kendall says the 23-year-old Georgia State University music education student competed as Miss Capital City.

She was second runner-up in the 2007 Georgia contest.

Her mother, Bishop Ann L. Hardman is the founder of The Impact Center.

University of Georgia student Lauren Edmunds was first runner-up. Second runner-up was Georgia State student Kristina Higgins.

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Information from: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, http://www.ledger-enquirer.com