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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Miss South Carolina is telling people a pretty big secret. She lost 110 pounds before taking the beauty pageant crown.

Miss Capital City Bree Boyce won the crown Saturday. The 22-year-old from Florence will compete for the Miss America title in Las Vegas in January.

Boyce has done several interviews holding up the size 18 pair of jeans she used to wear, saying she wants to inspire people to lose weight. She is especially proud that she won a preliminary swimsuit competition.

Boyce's talent was singing "Tu Tu Piccola Iddio," and she had to do it twice because of technical difficulties on her first attempt.

Caitlen Patton of Summerville won the Miss South Carolina Teen crown.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)