Harding was crowned Saturday night at the Pantages Theater in Tacoma and will represent Washington in the Miss America competition, which takes place in January in Las Vegas. She competed in the Miss Washington pageant as Miss Tahoma, a title she earned in a Puyallup pageant.

First runner-up is Kristin Cox, Miss Tri-Cities; second runner-up is Elizabeth Lamb-Ferro, Miss Pierce County; and third runner-up is Cara Rudd, Miss Auburn.

Harding will work for the cause of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America during her reign. To earn her crown, she played a cascading classical piano piece, modeled a two-piece pink swimsuit and a black-and-white beaded evening gown, and answered questions in an onstage interview.

Asked whether she thought Americans are too selfish to make sacrifices to aid the environment, Harding said in the interview that she believes Americans are already starting to do so.

Harding is the daughter of Ron and Myrna Harding, and a student at Western Washington University, where she’s studying elementary education, social studies and communications.

She serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Whatcom County and is a Big Sister.

“She puts in hundreds of hours of community service, in whatever cause comes forward,” said Ron Harding, who is the mayor of Yelm.

Harding received her crown from outgoing Miss Washington Elyse Umemoto, who laughed as she struggled to pin the crown on a tearful Harding. Both women hugged.

Umemoto made headlines last week after embarrassing photos of her were posted on the celebrity gossip Web site TMZ.

Umemoto, 24, apologized, and Miss Washington officials said she could keep her crown and pass it to her successor Saturday night.

The audience of more than 600 was clearly supportive of Umemoto, awarding her a standing ovation nearly every time she appeared onstage during the three-hour production.

Umemoto waved to the audience, urging people to sit down.

Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635