By Rita Hart

Staff Writer

STUART - Amber Garrod has more than just a touch of class.

In fact, on July 3 she was named the winner of the 2007 Miss America's Touch of Class pageant in Las Vegas.

"I was completely overwhelmed and in complete shock," said Ms. Garrod, a 2005 graduate of Martin County High School.

According to their Web site, the mission of the Miss America's Touch of Class pageant is to "encourage women of all ages to be positive about their futures by accomplishing their goals, strengthening their self-esteem and confidence and with determination to succeed in life by advancing in their own natural skills for success."

The final night of the Las Vegas pageant was the culmination of two days of competition, beginning with a panel interview and a platform speech.

"The platform is basically a subject that you plan on devoting your year to," explained Ms. Garrod. "Mine is America on the Run, a non-profit that promotes physical fitness for all ages."

Ms. Garrod knows something about physical fitness. She is an avid runner who runs at least three days per week. She and her boyfriend, Stuart resident Tommy Allore, belong to the Treasure Coast Triathlon Club, and Ms. Garrod aspires to compete in a triathlon, as Mr. Allore now does.

She also exercises in a gym an additional four days per week, and she loves to golf.

In addition to a swimsuit, modeling and evening gown competition, the national pageant required contestants to respond to questions they randomly picked out of a bowl, on both nights of the competition.

"On the first night, my question was 'Do you think our country is spending enough money for scientific research for diseases?' said Ms. Garrod.

"I said I do think we are spending enough money, but I question where the money is going. I feel it's important it is spent in a proper way and split up among diseases, not just focused on certain ones," she said.

On the final night, Ms. Garrod said her question was "If you were hiding from a problem, where would you hide?"

"A lot of people expected me to say I wouldn't hide from my problem, but I said I would go to my favorite place and lay in a hammock, drinking a tropical drink," she said.

Sitting in the audience for the Las Vegas pageant were Ms. Garrod's parents, Colleen and Frank, and Mr. Allore.

"Our feet still haven't touched the ground," said Mrs. Garrod.

"For her to win a national title is amazing. She did a lot of preparing, spent a lot of time at the gym, made sure all her outfits were perfect. So she was fully prepared and that's the thing we were most proud about. It's nice to see her hard work pay off," she said.

Ms. Garrod has been involved with pageants for about five years. Her first major win was Miss Martin County 2004, and the following year, Miss Palm Beach Teen USA. She also competed in Miss Florida USA and in 2006, won the title to the Miss Paradise USA pageant in Daytona Beach.

To compete in the Miss America's Touch of Class pageant, she first had to win the Miss Treasure Coast Touch of Class and the Miss Florida pageants.

Ms. Garrod will be busy in the coming year. In the fall, she will return to IRCC, where she is a Dean's List student. She currently works for her mother's cleaning business four days a week. As the pageant winner in July, she is now required to make a minimum of two appearances every month for the next 12 months.

"I plan on getting America on the Run off the ground and hope to visit kids in Martin County's schools to promote physical fitness," said Ms. Garrod.

As if that isn't enough, she is also a volunteer with Greyhound Pets of America, an organization based in Palm Beach County dedicated to promoting adoptions of retired or injured greyhound dogs that can no longer race.

Ms. Garrod's mother said many people think there is a stigma attached to pageants, but they couldn't be more wrong.

"My motto is pay attention to these girls because one day they will be your boss. The pageants prepare them for the world," said Mrs. Garrod.

Ms. Garrod is grateful to the Martin County businesses that sponsored her in the Miss America's Touch of Class pageant, including Dangerous Curves, Allore's Plumbing and Rag Street.

"It was a phenomenal, once in a lifetime experience, and I had a lot of sponsors that helped me get through. I want to send out a big 'thank you' to all of them," said Ms. Garrod.