Who Is Christen Marie McAllister? Miss Kentucky USA 2017 Finalist Charged With Arson For Setting Fire To Roommate's Bed

RTSX31U — Miss Kentucky USA 2017 finalist Christen Marie McAllister was charged with first-degree arson after she was accused of setting her roommate's bed. In this photo, Miss Universe candidates take part in a rehearsal for the beauty pageant on Jan. 30 in Manila, Jan. 24, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

A finalist in last month's Miss Kentucky USA beauty pageant, Christen Marie McAllister, was charged with one count of arson after she was accused of setting her roommate's bed on fire in the presence of two of her roommates.

Meet our NEW 2017 Miss Kentucky USA 👑Madelynne Myers! Finalists, Braea Tilford, Ramya Kondaveeti, Stephanie Ramos and Christen McAllister. pic.twitter.com/Ch9mEkXoKv
— Connie Clark Harrison (@C0nnieClark) January 23, 2017

According to a local news report, Louisville, Kentucky, firefighters were called to the 300 block of Armstrong Drive at the Retreat, a cottage-style off-campus housing community that serves as residence to the students at the University of Louisville, near the university's Belknap Campus, around 12:15 a.m. local time, Saturday.

The 22-year-old McAllister, a student at the university, set fire to her roommate's bed after a heated argument early Saturday morning. Authorities said McAllister confessed to setting the mattress on fire and the confession was captured on a Louisville Metro Police Department body camera. No injuries were reported.

According to state law, arson in the first degree is punishable with up to 20 to 50 years in prison, and fines up to $10,000.

McAllister was the fourth runner-up in the beauty pageant last month, after finishing in the top 15 the previous year. According to her social media accounts, McAllister is studying marketing at the university.

She started a GoFundMe page to raise money for competing in the beauty pageant and wrote that the event "is a wonderful way to get involved with the community." She was able to raise her online goal of $2,500 to compete in Miss Kentucky USA.

"Through this experience I will be able to learn and absorb a great deal of information, which will carry on with me throughout my lifetime. If selected as Miss Kentucky USA, I will move on to represent my state through the plethora of opportunities provided, which will better prepare me for Miss USA 2017. I am thrilled to take on this journey for the second time, and I cannot thank each and every one of you enough for your constant, unwavering support. Fingers crossed," she wrote on the page.