Miss USA, Olivia Culpo was crowned Miss Universe at the prestigious pageant held in Planet Hollywood at Las Vegas on Dec. 19, beating out 88 other contestants. The victory is of particular celebration to country since this is the first time in 15 years that a Miss USA has brought home the crown.
Culpo was crowned, as the Miss Universe tradition goes, by last year's winner, Leila Lopes of Angola. The last Miss USA to win the crown was Brook Lee in 1997.
Miss Philippines, Janine Tugonon, came in as first runner-up, and Irene Sofia Esser Quintero - Miss Venezuela was labeled second runner-up. See photos of the two runner-ups and other contestants here.
Culpo is 22 years old and is a sophomore at Boston University. Her parents told reporters that they when their daughter first decided to enter the Miss Rhode Island beauty pageant they were all stunned. "We didn't know a thing about pageants," Peter Culpo told Associated Press reporters. The young beauty contestant won the competition in a $20 rented dress.
Both Culpo's parents are musicians and Culpo herself plays the cello. According to the Associated Press, "She has played the cello alongside world-renowned classical musician Yo-Yo Ma, and followed in her parents' footsteps with performances at Carnegie Hall in New York City."
See pictures of Culpo throughout the competition here.
When asked by the judges if she had any regrets, Culpo answered, ""I'd like to start off by saying that every experience no matter what it is, good or bad, you'll learn from it. That's just life...But something I've done I've regretted is probably picking on my siblings growing up, because you appreciate them so much more as you grow older."
The Miss Universe pageant is co-owned by Celebrity Apprentice host Donald Trump along with NBC. Culpo, like all Miss Universe winners, wins an undisclosed monetary prize, a year supply of high couture clothes and a apartment in New York City.
RELATED ARTILCES:
Donald Trump Miss Universe Organization Wins $5 Million in Lawsuit Against Former Contestant Sheena Monnin
