The cellist who became a beauty queen: Rhode Island stunner, 20, crowned Miss USA
- Olivia Culpo topped a field of 51 beauty queens to take the title
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A 20-year-old cellist from Rhode Island won the Miss USA crown and will represent the United States in this year's Miss Universe pageant, after she made it clear that she embraced all beauty queens- transgender or otherwise- during the interview portion of the competition.
Olivia Culpo topped a field of 51 beauty queens on Sunday to take the title at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
She strutted across the stage in a purple bikini and a purple evening gown with sparkly belt.
Winner: Olivia Culpo, 20, from Rhode Island won the title of Miss USA on Sunday night during the live broadcast
Surprise! Miss Culpo, who is trained as a cellist, looks thrilled when she was announced the winner
Hearing her side: Hosts Andy Cohen (left) and Giuliana Rancic (center) and Miss Culpo speak during the ceremony
In the dreaded final question round, Ms Culpo was faced with the most difficult question of the night: would it be fair for a person born a man to be named Miss Universe after becoming a woman?
Ms Culpo never stumbled as she embraced the Miss Universe Organization's recent decision to admit transgender contestants.
‘I do think that would be fair,’ Ms Culpo said. ‘But I could understand how people could be apprehensive to take that road.’
Ms Culpo said she was short and chubby as a girl, but blossomed after a growth spurt.
I can't believe it: Miss Culpo said she was short and chubby as a girl, but blossomed after a growth spurt
Standing out in the crowd: Miss Culpo, center, won out of the 51 contestants
Well done: Miss Culpo, is congratulated by Miss Maryland Nana Meriwether after she is announced as the pageant winner
Showing off the outfits: Miss Culpo won two stunning gowns during the ceremony
Looking pretty for The Donald: The Miss USA competition is half-owed by Donald Trump
Serenade: Pop star Akon performs in front of the final five
Rather than spending all her time primping and focused on her looks, she attended band camp in the summer, devoting much of her time to her cello.
Miss Iowa USA Rebecca Hodge was named Miss Congeniality, and Miss Oregon USA Alaina Bergsma was named the most photogenic. They both won $1,000, but didn't make the top 16.
The pageant at the Planet Hollywood casino on the Las Vegas Strip had three competitions: swimsuit, evening gowns and interview question.
Body of work: Miss Culpo stuck to purple as her color in both the bikini portion (pictured) and the evening gown segment of the competition
Top five: (From left) Miss Ohio, Miss Maryland, Miss Rhode Island, Miss Nevada and Miss Georgia
Top ten: The finalists pose on stage during the 2012 pageant. Miss Culpo will represent the United States at the 61st Miss Universe pageant later this year
Contenders: Miss Texas Brittany Booker and Miss Ohio Audrey Bolte, walk along the stage after being announced as making the 16 finalists
Hosts: Andy Cohen, center left, and Giuliana Rancic opened the pageant
Hanging out: (L-R) Miss Wisconsin Emily Guerin, Miss Oklahoma, Lauren Taylor, Miss Kentucky Amanda Ashlee Mertz, Miss Arizona, Erika Lane Frantzve, Miss Arkansas, Kelsey Dow, and Miss Louisiana Erin Edmiston
Backstage pass: (L-R) Miss Virginia, Catherine Ashley Muldoon, Miss Wisconsin Emily Guerin, Miss Vermont, Jamie Lynn Dragon, Miss Utah Kendyl Carol Bell and Miss Wyoming Holly Allen wait during the final rehearsals
Midway through the contest, pop band Cobra Starship performed as the beauty queens modeled their string bikinis. The show also featured performances from Akon.
The judge's panel included chef Cat Cora, TV personality Arsenio Hall, singer Joe Jonas and reality TV star Rob Kardashian. Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic were on hand as the hosts of the evening.
Swimsuit round: Some of the contestants parade in swimwear by Kooey Australia and fashion footwear by Chinese Laundry
Rearly lovely: The pageant at the Planet Hollywood casino on the Las Vegas Strip had three competitions: swimsuit, evening gowns and interview question
Intelligence test: Miss Culpo knew the name of Vice President Joe Biden when asked (right) during an appearance on Cohen's talk show (left)
Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella crowned her successor at the end of the night.
Ms Culpo will represent the United States at the 61st Miss Universe pageant later this year. An American has not been named Miss Universe since Brook Lee won the title in 1997.
The Miss Universe Organization is co-owned by NBC and Donald Trump and is not affiliated with the Miss America pageant.
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