She almost lost her crown, but she never lost her cool Saturday night.

Twenty-year-old Kimberly Kirby, a student at the University of Montevallo, found getting that sparkling new crown to stay on straight was no easy feat.

The Hueytown resident and brand-new Miss Greater Greenville 2006 just kept on smiling.

After all, her dream had just come true.

&#8220I started participating in preliminaries last summer. I've been in about six or seven, won a couple of swimsuit awards and placed in all but one – but this is my first title,” she said Saturday night.

It was also her first visit to the Camellia City.

&#8220Everybody down here has been so nice this weekend, it's been a great experience,” Kirby said.

Kirby, who is majoring in education for the deaf and hearing-impaired, supports the Girl Scouts of America as her official Miss Alabama/Miss America platform.

&#8220I love working with young girls. I want to help them see you don't have to be ‘super-skinny' to be a beautiful person, to teach them what's inside really is the most important part of you,” Kirby explained.

That's not to say the New Miss Greater Greenville doesn't stay in shape. Kirby, who wears a size one, tied with Jessica Andrews for the Miss GG swimsuit award Saturday night.

Between school and working out at One to One Fitness, the new Miss GG admits she doesn't have &#8220a lot of downtime.”

&#8220When I do have free time, I love to read. I try to read at least a chapter a day of the Bible, and I also like devotional books.”

With an impish grin, the talented vocalist also admitted she loved to &#8220sing in the shower, and everywhere else.”

Kirby's parents, Herb and Denise Kirby and her older sister, Courtney, were also on hand for &#8220little sister's” big win.

&#8220This is a great town. We're really glad Kimberly won the title here,” Denise Kirby said with a smile.

The Kirbys spent the weekend in Greenville, enjoying a Sunday lunch with the Miss Greater Greenville Scholarship Board members.

Sue Arnold, director of the program, said the board is &#8220thrilled with the judge's choice.”

&#8220Kimberly is looking forward to a great year ahead – and we are, too.”