Warm, chatty, down-to-earth and inspiring, Kirsten Haglund has the right personality for her new job. The 19-year-old from Farmington Hills is traveling the country in her role as Miss America. Since winning the title in January, she has met President George W. Bush and thrown out the first pitch for the Detroit Tigers' Opening Day, among other tasks.

On Friday and Saturday, Haglund will cohost and perform at National City Stars of Ballet and Broadway at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts. Local performers will share the spotlight with stars from top national dance troupes (the New York City Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey) and Broadway shows ("The Color Purple" "The Light in the Piazza," "Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk" and "Sweet Charity"). Haglund is excited about being part of the two-night event, which benefits Music Hall's dance education program and the Miss America Scholarship Fund. In fact, she's pretty much positive about everything, even the struggling Tigers.

You're an aspiring Broadway star. If you could have your choice of any lead role in any show, what would it be?
I really love the role of Kim in "Miss Saigon." It's one of my absolute favorite musicals. ... It's an incredible show. ... I had a video of it, but I didn't actually see it live until a national tour of it came to Detroit. I think I was a junior in high school. ... But I knew the score before then. I had the entire score memorized.

You sang "Over the Rainbow" for your Miss America win. What songs are playing in your iPod right now?
Oh my goodness, I listen to lots of movie soundtracks and classical music, which is funny, and alternative. I really have eclectic tastes in music. I listen to a lot of Josh Groban. I listen to a lot of Michael Buble. I actually have this CD of French music that I've been listening to, French café music.

On a serious note, now that you've talked about your experience overcoming anorexia, what's been the reaction from other women?
For the most part, it's been one of solidarity and positivity and just "Thank you so much." ... It makes me so happy and so fulfilled that I'm able to be a little bit of a voice for so many people, the nine million Americans that are struggling with eating disorders. But it's so much more than that. It's women and body image issues in general. ... The message that I have, I'm not trying to say, "Well, I overcame an eating disorder just like that and it was easy." No, the message is that it is hard; it is a struggle; it's a mental illness. But the fact is, people can recover from eating disorders and go on to live healthy, productive lives.

What's the first thing people ask you about being Miss America?
Many people ask me how has your life changed and when do you get to go home. Basically, it's the fact that I'm homeless and I don't get to go home to stay at my house, except for Easter and Christmas. I do live out of two 50-pound suitcases and travel all the time, but I love it. ... I get to devote an entire year to service, to things I'm so passionate about, and have opportunities I will never probably have again in my life to use my voice in a positive way, so I am just so, so grateful.

You threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Detroit Tigers' Opening Day this year. Considering their record so far, would you be willing to come back and pitch again?
Oh my gosh, yes, of course. I'm not a fair-weather friend of my Detroit sports teams. I'm a Michigan native, a Detroit native, and I'm proud of them, whatever their record.