LOS ANGELES, Oct 14, 2001 / -- Nicole Brink of Indianapolis, Indiana has been crowned "Mrs. America 2001." The "25th Mrs. America Pageant" was broadcast Saturday, October 13 on PAX TV.

As "Mrs. Indiana," the 26-year-old spinal surgery specialist was chosen from a field of 51 contestants in Honolulu, Hawaii and will now go on to compete in the "Mrs. World" Pageant in Las Vegas in December.

"This is such a surprise... I'm still reeling," said Brink. "I keep looking at my banner and crown and wondering if all this is a dream."

Brink assists surgeons during spinal and brain surgery at more than a dozen different hospitals in the Indianapolis area. Brink and her husband Chad, an anesthesiology resident at Indiana University Medical Center, have been married a year. He escorted his wife onstage during the evening gown competition at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

As the new Mrs. America, Brink's prizes will include a new 2001 Hyundai luxury sedan automobile and "His and Hers" Vespa scooters from Piaggio USA. Among the other prizes Brink will receive are: a luxury condo vacation from Hilton Grand Vacations, $25,000 worth of jewelry from New York's House of LeVian and $5,000 in cash from Actonel. She will also make numerous personal appearances with Florence Henderson and speak on behalf of the new osteoporosis medication Actonel.

The pageant, celebrating its 25th Anniversary, was hosted by John O'Hurley ("To Tell The Truth," "Seinfeld") and "Downtown" Julie Brown (MTV). Florence Henderson ("The Brady Bunch") was honored with the first ever "Woman of Spirit" Award for her tireless work as a woman's health advocate and campaigner for osteoporosis screening, prevention and treatment. The contestants also participated in a special patriotic opening-a red, white and blue singing and dancing extravaganza.

PAX will present an encore of the pageant on Saturday, October 20 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., (ET/PT).

For additional background information about "MRS. AMERICA," please visit the official website located at www.mrsamerica.com or pax.tv.