Miss America Katie Stam gets engaged on eve of Miss Virginia

The day before she turned her crown over to Caressa Cameron, Miss America Katie Stam was given another jewel to take its place.

Stam's fiance Brian Irk proposed to the beauty queen on Friday during a fundraiser gala, People.com reports.

600 guests watched as Irk got on one knee and said, "I love you so much. Will you be my Miss America forever?"

The couple are returning home to Indianapolis after the Miss America 2010 ceremony and plan to marry in the fall.

Stam reigned as Miss America for the whole of 2009, but passed her crown onto Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron on Saturday night.

The 22-year-old journalism student from Fredericksburg, Va. also won a $50,000 scholarship.

"It's bittersweet but being engaged and going back to Indiana knowing that I'm engaged to the man that I love, makes it really special and makes it easier to let go of being Miss America," Stam told People.com.

Miss California Kristy Cavinder was first runner up and will take over Miss America's duties if she cannot perform them.