Metro

Brooklyn Miss America: I’m just like any other gal

She dutifully wore a crown and appeared on morning television shows — but Brooklyn’s new Miss America insisted yesterday she’s just an average woman.

Beauty queen Mallory Hagan — who lived in Alabama until she moved to New York five years ago — said yesterday that she knows what it’s like to lead a hectic life.

“I genuinely understand the hardships the average woman faces,” Hagan said on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” noting she works as a waitress at Lure Fishbar even while attending the Fashion Institute of Technology.

“The struggle was vast,” she said. “There were days when I had five bucks in my pocket. And I would push that $5” between MetroCards and food.

“I understand what it’s like to do all these things day-to-day and still maintain a healthy lifestyle,” added Hagan, who significantly slimmed down for Saturday’s Miss America competition after she was a 2010 runner-up in the state pageant as Miss Brooklyn.

And though she’s from down South, Hagan says she’s ready to lay down roots in New York.

“No matter what happened, I was going to come back to New York,” said Hagan, who currently lives in Windsor Terrace.

“There hasn’t been a Miss America from New York since 1945 [Bess Myerson],” said Hagan, who then quickly corrected herself.

“Well, [ousted 1984 Miss America] Vanessa Williams was Miss New York.”

And she’s already thinking of ways to raise her profile in town.

“I haven’t been to a Brooklyn Nets game yet. Maybe now I’ll get invited,” Hagan said.

“I’d like to sing the national anthem for them.”

Barclays Center officials yesterday wasted no time in accepting the offer.

“We would love to have her perform the national anthem, and the Nets plan to arrange it shortly,” said Barry Baum, a spokesman for Barclays and the Nets.

On ABC’s “The View” yesterday, co-host Whoopi Goldberg said she remembers Hagan was her waitress several times at the Mercer Street eatery.

“I didn’t realize until this morning that this is the new Miss America. I feel like I should wait on her today.”

Hagan said she remembers Whoopi as a customer: “Of course I do!”

The Fashion Institute of Technology student has put her education on hold for a year as she fulfills her Miss America duties.

She promised to spend the $50,000 in scholarship money she won to finish her degree in communications and cosmetics marketing.