Derry – The fourth time was a charm for 22-year-old Lindsey Graham of Sandown, Miss Seacoast, who last night was crowned Miss New Hampshire 2009, capping off the 63rd annual scholarship pageant in a swirl of confetti and fanfare before a packed house at Pinkerton Academy’s Stockbridge Theatre.

Graham, competing in her fourth Miss New Hampshire pageant clinched the crown after a night of competition that included her talent contribution: singing her own arrangement of Leonard Cohen’s stirring “Hallelujah,” while playing piano.

During a prerecorded segment before her performance, Graham said she believes the talent portion of the pageant — which is exclusive to the Miss America program — allows contestants to express themselves as individuals.

LINDSAY GRAHAM is hugged by the first runner-up, Meghan Lamontagne of Pelham. (CHERYL SENTER)

Graham graduated in just three years from Fordham University in 2008, summa cum laude, with a degree in broadcast journalism. In addition to the $15,000 winning prize, Graham also took home an armload of ancillary awards, including a $1,000 Miss America State Scholar award, $1,500 Meg Geraghty Memorial Community Service Award and $2,500 Suzanne Knox Memorial Academic Achievement Award.

First runner-up was Meghan Lamontagne of Pelham, Miss Stratham Fair; second runner-up was Regan Hartley of Dover, Miss Kearsarge Valley; third runner-up was Alicia Rossman of Brentwood, Miss Lakes Region; and fourth runner-up was Darcy Cain of Manchester, Miss Londonderry.

Miss New Hampshire 2008 Natalie Shaw was co-host of the program, along with Jamie Staton, sports director of WMUR-TV. Throughout the night, Staton kept the crowd engaged, throwing in occasional sports references and analogies, and finally recapping the top five by last name, as if he were reading a baseball roster.

Highlights of the program included an elaborately choreographed swimsuit competition reminiscent of “Slumdog Millionaire,” with contestants wearing colorful cover-ups draped like saris, and a nod to Miss New Hampshires past, with a parade of former state title holders dating back to 1975.

Backstage after the pageant, contestants lingered, some crying, most of them hugging and dancing along to the piped in music, warming up for the gala that followed at the Bedford Village Inn.

Double-click Cheryl Senter's slideshow below for the highlights of the pageant final. A gallery of photos will be posted on UnionLeader.com by Tuesday.

Graham stood, surrounded by amateur paparazzi, looking awestruck, but regal.“It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” Graham said, following a bear hug from her grandmother.

Close by her side was Brenda Keith, pageant president and executive director.

“Tomorrow we will meet with Lindsey and her family and go over what the next 365 days will be like,” Keith said. “They will be hectic, busy, rewarding and a lot of hard work to prepare to be New Hampshire’s first Miss America.”