BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- When Opelika residents woke up this morning, there was one thing on their mind: Now, they can boast that the new Miss America, Mallory Hagan, is their hometown girl.

"It's a special Sunday in Opelika," said Mayor Gary Fuller. "We got the new Miss America and are simply thrilled about that."

Although Hagan, a native of Opelika, won the crown while representing New York, her hometown roots have left many in Alabama curious and excited to learn more.

"I understand that she was representing New York," said Fuller, "but she's our girl. It literally is the talk of the town. Even at Sunday school this morning, everyone was talking about it."

Hagan, a 2007 Opelika High School graduate, studied at Auburn University before moving to New York in 2008. Her mother, Mandy Moore, and several other family members still reside in Opelika, added Fuller.

Moore owns Make Your Move Performing Arts Studio, where Hagan is listed as a guest artist and choreographer.

"She just has a light inside her that everyone is always seeing," Kari Pierce, a dance teacher at the studio, said in an interview with the Opelika-Auburn News. "She shines on the stage, she's personable and she's such a great example to children and young women because this is what she's always wanted to do and always what everyone thought she would end up doing."

That sentiment is shared with Fuller, who although never officially met Hagan, was once close friends with Hagan's grandparents. The pride he felt for her accomplishment was almost indescribable.

"My goodness," he said with a laugh, "I cannot tell you the feeling I had when they announced her name. The chill-bumps on me were bigger than golf balls."

The only other time he felt that way in his recent memory, he added, was when he watched the University of Alabama win the National Championship.

"I'm an older guy," said Fuller. "I don't get chill-bumps about a lot of things, but I sure got them when they announced the winner."

Last night, he said, he tuned in simply because Hagan was a contestant. Beauty pageants aren't typically on his viewing schedule, explained the football fan.

"We are empty-nesters," said Fuller. "Normally, I would not even think about staying up for something like that, but with an Opelika girl, I had to see what happened."

As the show went on, Fuller's excitement and sense of pride grew in conjunction.

Fuller, along with millions of others, watched Hagan tap dance to James Brown's "Get Up Offa That Thing," model in a swimsuit and evening wear, and answer an on-stage question about gun control.

"When she made the Top 15," said Fuller, "I thought, 'well, even if it ends now, that's great, simply making the Top 15.' But then, she made it to the Top 10."

The chill-bumps began when Hagan made it to the Top 5, said Fuller.

"I remember thinking, 'she might just win this,'" he said.

For Fuller and countless others in the community, it all boils down to one thing: a sense of civic pride.

"When one of our own becomes successful," said Fuller, "It makes us all so proud as a community."

In all, he is proud of his entire community.

"Mallory's not the first beautiful girl or talented woman that we have produced," said Fuller. "We have had a lot of them. For us to have beautiful, talented women is not anything unusual. We've got a lot of talented girls, pretty girls in Opelika. And so of course, Mallory has made us so proud by what she has accomplished."

Pretty girls, however, aren't the only thing Opelika can boast about, Fuller quickly added.

"We have so many things to be proud of that have happened over the last few years," said Fuller. "We are building a new high school, will soon enjoy world-class power services that will put Opelika in the forefront of development and we've got a world-class medical center. There are so many plusses."

Of particular note, he added, was the football team's recent participation in the High School State Championship against Hoover. Despite the loss, said Fuller, simply making it to the game helped bring the city a sense of pride.

"We were lucky enough to have ended the year on a high note," said Fuller. "Now, we get to start the New Year on yet another high note."