Miss America contestant collapses during pageant

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ -- A contestant in the Miss America competition collapsed onstage and was taken to a hospital as a precaution during the first night of preliminary competition Tuesday.

Ivy DePew, Miss Rhode Island, was standing in the back row of contestants at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall when she collapsed during an awards presentation by New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

Dena Blizzard, the pageant's host, told the audience "She just got a little overheated."

Sharon Pearce, president of the Miss America Organization, said DePew would be fine.

"She fainted, but she will be OK," Pearce told The Associated Press.

DePew had competed earlier in the evening in the pageant's swimsuit competition.