BEDFORD – A Londonderry native was crowned Miss New Hampshire USA yesterday in a ceremony plush with pageantry and patriotism.

Laura Silva, 19, said she did not expect to win the pageant since it was the first time she had participated in the event.

"I'm so excited," Silva said. "I didn't think this would happen."

Silva, a sophomore at Plymouth State University, is studying marketing and hopes to work as an executive at a large corporation.

Laura Silva, seated, co-founded a dance team when she was a student at Londonderry High School.

She said was inspired to enter the Miss New Hampshire USA pageant by her older sister, Cara, who has spent eight years competing in the Miss New Hampshire program and is the reigning Miss Londonderry.

"I kind of wanted to follow in her footsteps," Silva said.

She chose Miss New Hampshire USA because the program touts itself as a beauty pageant. She said she hopes her experience as the title-holder will help her realize her goal of becoming a model.

Both Silva and her sister are avid dancers. Laura Silva co-founded a dance team when she was a student at Londonderry High School and is looking forward to a second year on the dance team at Plymouth State.

The first runner-up was Natasha Furbish, a 19-year-old Gilford resident. Second runner-up was 19-year-old Megan Delaney of Manchester. The winners were selected on the basis of their performance in the evening wear and swimsuit competitions.

Twenty women aged 18 to 27 from across the state competed in the pageant, which was held over the course of two days.

The final Miss New Hampshire USA pageant was held yesterday at the Wayfarer Quality Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Bedford. It was produced by Frank Sweeney.

Representatives from the Air Force ROTC unit at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute also participated in the event, serving as escorts for the contestants during the evening wear portion of the program.