Stam began competing in pageants at the age of 15, winning a local title before being named Kentuckiana Teen and advancing and winning her first national pageant. She later won Indiana's Junior Miss in 2005, and was named second runner-up at the 2005 America's Junior Miss competition.
In November 2007, Stam won the local Miss Duneland title. She competed in the Miss Indiana pageant for the first time in June 2008, and was crowned Miss Indiana. For her state talent she performed "Art Is Calling Me."
On this TLC reality series, viewers followed the 52 Miss America contestants vying for the Miss America 2009 crown. Viewers then had the opportunity to vote online for a contestant to help them earn a "Golden Sash", signifying a secured spot in the top 15. Stam was the first to receive a "Golden Sash" during the first episode.
The Miss America 2009 pageant was broadcast live on TLC from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 24, 2009. For her talent, Stam sang "Via Dolorosa" despite suffering from a throat infection. At the conclusion of the telecast, Stam beat out first runner-up Miss Georgia 2008, Chastity Hardman, for the title of Miss America 2009 and was crowned by Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund. With this win she became the first Miss Indiana to claim the Miss America title. Along with the title of Miss America, she won a $50,000 scholarship. In interviews held after her winning the Miss America crown, Stam expressed interest in completing her bachelor's degree in communication at the University of Indianapolis and seeking a career as a television news reporter and anchor after her reign.
Miss America role
Her platform was "Passion for Service: Promoting Community Service and Involvement." As Miss America, Stam traveled approximately 20,000 miles each month promoting and speaking on her platform of community service and acted as the official National Goodwill Ambassador for the Children’s Miracle Network. On Thanksgiving Day 2009, Stam served food at the New York Rescue Mission, and also appeared on a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the first Miss America to do so in nearly a decade. Stam met President Obama through a joint meeting with the Children's Miracle Network Hospital Champions at the White House.
Personal life
In January 2010, Stam's boyfriend, Brian Irk, proposed to her. They married in July 2010. Katie Stam Irk gave birth to daughter, Charlotte Bell, in August 2013 and delivered a second daughter named Rose Lee Esther in May 2015. On October 31, 2016, she gave birth to a son, whose name was determined by the outcome of the 2016 World Series. Stam Irk's husband is a Chicago Cubs fan. So when the couple found out she was pregnant, they decided that if the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, their son would be named Wrigley. If the Cleveland Indians won, then he would be named Oliver. Their son remained unnamed for three days, until the Cubs beat the Indians in Game 7 on November 3, 2016, and he was given the name Wrigley Oliver.
