Miss Bowling Green is now the new Miss Kentucky.

22-year-old Emily Cox is a University of Kentucky graduate and a native of Campbellsville.

Daniel Kemp went there to talk with Emily, and some of the folks who helped push her and her talents to the top.

When you hear her play, her talent is instantly recognized.

"Her musical talent came naturally. She always wanted to practice. She always wanted to get better," assured her father, Dr. Ricky Cox.

"I had my first piano lesson when I was five-years-old and I fell in love with it. It's something that's going to be valuable to me for the rest of my life," said Emily Cox, Miss Kentucky 2008.

"She was a really tiny five-year-old and I worried about those hands--could she execute what she needed to at the keyboard? She proved in a very short time she could handle anything," said Suellen Shaw, Emily's piano teacher since she was five.

Like winning Miss Kentucky 2008.

"I don't think there's one word I can use to describe that moment other than just complete joy. I realized my life was going to change forever and I wanted to take it all in an enjoy the experience," Cox said,

Her dad says he noticed her gift at an early age.

"From the time she could walk, she was kind of a showboat. She liked ballet, and she liked to dress up like a grownup, with beads and makeup. She pretty well had it all down by about age three," Dr. Cox laughed.

And since then, Emily's hard work is truly paying off.

"There's so much to be gained from competing in Miss Kentucky. I've been able to grow as a person, develop my talents and to showcase that--it's a wonderful experience and a dream come true," Emily added.

A dream come true for herself, and those so close to her.

"To see this five-year-old girl with dreams and aspirations of, 'Maybe could I be that one day,' develop into this beautiful young woman. Emily is the real deal," Mrs. Shaw said.

Emily's duties as Miss Kentucky include traveling to public appearances and visiting children's hospitals.

She'll also be taping a reality show in September and will head to Las Vegas in January to represent Kentucky in the Miss America pageant.