The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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.
Former Miss Georgia 2009 titleholder Kristina Higgins. 
Kristina Higgins, who won the title of Miss Georgia 2009 Saturday evening at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts in downtown Columbus, gave up the crown almost as quickly as she received it. On Sunday morning, Emily Cook, the first runner-up, received word that she would be the new Miss Georgia 2009, and would compete for the title of Miss America next January in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Higgins, 24, having previously won the title of Miss Capital City, beat out 34 other pageant hopefuls to take the crown, only to relinquish it privately the next morning. In a rather confusing twist, Higgins had competed twice before in the Miss Georgia pageant, placing second just last year.
Emily Cook, the newly crowned Miss Georgia 2009. 
In a prepared statement via the Miss Georgia Scholarship Pageant, Higgins said, "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. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been chosen as Miss Georgia and fully support the system and wish Emily Cook the best of luck." Higgins is a 2008 graduate from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, receiving her degree in special education.

Cook, 22, won the title of Miss Cobb County before eventually placing second in Saturday's competition, and now takes over duties for Higgins effective immediately. A 2005 graduate of Kennesaw Mountain High School, Cook graduated this May with a degree in music from the University of Miami, and will be pursuing a law degree this year at the University of Georgia in Athens. 

Cook was scheduled to make her first televised appearance as Miss Georgia 2009 on Sunday evening, during WTVM's six o'clock news.