Southern Arizona sweeps Miss Arizona

Top 3 finishers in Miss America pageant qualifier live in region

GILBERT — Three Southern Arizona contestants were the top finishers in the Miss Arizona Scholarship Pageant on Saturday night at Gilbert High School.

Erin Nurss of Sierra Vista (Miss Tucson Valley) was crowned Miss Arizona and will advance to the Miss America pageant in January. She is the daughter of Mike and Terry Nurss of Sierra Vista.

Rachelle Gurule of Tucson (Miss Rio Nuevo) was first-runner up, and University of Arizona student Stephanie Brooks (Miss Pima County) was second runner-up.

Nurss was first-runner up to Miss Arizona Nicole Turner in 2007. She is a University of Arizona graduate with a degree in Nutrition. Nurss, whose platform was “Healthy Habits - Promoting Health and Wellness in Youth,” also was awarded the Miss Arizona academic achievement award. She is pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Health.

Nurss has been a member of the UA’s Pom Line. She danced to “I Believe” in the talent portion of the competition.

Brooks won the Miss America Organization State Community Service Award for her platform work on heart disease. She was a double winner in preliminary competition, tying for first in the swimsuit and winning the talent portions of the contest. She was the first woman in four years to win the swimsuit and talent preliminaries in the same contest.

jbennett@gvnews.com