Rochester native Sara Achorn has won the 65th edition of the Miss New Bedford pageant.

Achorn, an 18-year-old freshman at Lesley University, won the crown over eight other contestants. Her win brought her a $6,500 scholarship. In addition, she won two other awards. The first, the Talent Award, was awarded to her as the highest-scoring talent act. Achorn sang "And I am Telling You," from the musical Dreamgirls.

The new Miss New Bedford also took the Miracle Maker Award, given to the contestant who has raised the most money for the hospitals involved in the Children's Miracle Network.

All eight contestants competed in several rounds. They answered an "Onstage Question," performed a talent, and showed off their bathing suits and beautiful dresses in the swimwear and evening wear rounds.

“I instantly felt myself to start to cry," Achorn said of the final announcement. "Then when they actually called my name I still didn't believe it. It was crazy! It sounds cliche but I truly believe any one of the women could have walked home with the crown that night."

Achorn win means that she will dedicate a year of service to the city of New Bedford as a role model and volunteer. She will also be working on spreading the message of her platform, "Imperfection: Pushing the Importance of Body Positivity in Today's Youth."

Achorn also won the Miss Plymouth County pageant in April, and was voted the "Most Talented Non-Finalist" in this year's Miss Massachusetts pageant.

With her win in the Miss New Bedford pageant, she is eligible to compete in next year's Miss Massachusetts pageant as well.