Johnston Can Help West High Girl Go From Hawkeye Cheerleader to Miss USA Title

Rebecca Hodge had never been in a beauty pageant before. She wasn't a "pageant girl," she said.

Without her knowledge, co-workers at Wig and Pen entered the 2008 Iowa City graduate and former Iowa Hawkeye cheerleader in the Miss Iowa USA competition. She went for it and she won. That was in October.

Miss Iowa, , who is from Johnston, competed in the Miss America Pageant in January.

Next, Becca, as she prefers to be called, will compete next month for the title of Miss USA in Las Vegas.

"I've never been to Las Vegas before, so I am really excited to go to Vegas, and excited to meet all of the girls, and I am excited to meet Donald Trump," said Hodge, 22. Trump puts on the pageant.

"And, obviously I want to win," Hodge said.

Hodge, who still lives in Iowa City, put her senior year at on hold to fulfill the duties of Miss Iowa USA. This includes events across Iowa virtually every weekend, such as the Best Buddies Friendship Walk in Des Moines to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

People can help Hodge in the Miss USA competition by voting for her online. Here's the details:

Fans will be able to vote to help get their favorite contestant into the semifinals at the MISS USA 2012 Competition. Voting starts May 1 through June 2. The contestant who receives the most votes will earn a place in the semifinals. So tune in on June 3 to see how the fan favorite semifinalist is revealed!

How Fans Can Vote:

o   Online at the Miss USA website.

o   Facebook: Miss USA Contestant Page.

The Miss USA competition is on June 3. It will be aired at 7 p.m. (CST) on NBC. Next week, Rebecca Hodge will travel to New York City to be one of 10 Miss USA contestants to appear on at least one of the major morning shows. She said she won't find out which show for a few more days, but it is supposed to air on Tuesday, May 8.