Meghan Zygalinski has been competing in local pageants since she was 13. But in 2006, it wasn’t clear whether she would even survive – let alone strut across a stage.

That April, the Lincoln resident was the passenger in a car that was involved in a drunken-driving related crash. A friend she was with died; Zygalinski was flown to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where she endured surgeries and grueling physical therapy.

All of which means Zygalinski means it when she talks about reaching out to young people regarding the dangers of drinking and driving.

“That’s been my biggest passion,” she said. “I really want to focus on (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and getting that more known.”

Now 22, Zygalinski will have a platform to do just that. The Sacramento State communications major was crowned Miss Placer County 2009 last Thursday at the Placer County Fair.

Zygalinski likened the moment to an “out-of-body experience.”

“I was in shock because all of the girls I competed with, we’ve all done pageants before and we all had the same feeling that we all had no clue who would win,” she said.

The win was the culmination of a longtime dream, she said.

“That was the ultimate goal -- to be Miss Placer County,” she said. “She’s sophisticated and when you’re little you look up to her.”

She said the biggest misconception about pageants is that they’re a simple beauty contest.

“You have to research Placer County and know its top crop and Board of Supervisors,” she said. “It’s not just a pageant where it’s, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ You have to be educated and know a lot.”

Zygalinski’s duties will include representing the county at official events, making public appearances and speaking to groups.

That suits Zygalinski’s interests just fine. The daughter of Tad and Leesa Zygalinski of Lincoln, her ultimate goal is to get into broadcasting. Dream job? Working on CW31’s Good Day Sacramento.

For a complete list of winners, visit www.kennedypageantproductions.com.