Nevada, Georgia or Oklahoma were thought to be on their way to win their first Miss USA title, however, in the end, it was Rhode Island who shone, beat the odds, and walked away with the coveted crown for the first time in history.
Olivia Culpo, 20, 1.66 m-tall, Miss USA 2012, received the crown from the hands of Alyssa Campanella, Miss USA 2011.
Nana Meriweather, Miss Maryland, was the 1st runner-up, Miss Ohio, Audrey Bolte, was the 2nd runner-up, Nevada’s Jade Kelsall was the 3rd runner-up, and Georgia’s Jasmine Wilkins finished as 4th runner-up.
The candidates from Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and New Jersey, reached the ‘top 10′. The quarter-finalists (top 16) were Misses Tennessee, Michigan, Louisiana, Maine, South Carolina and Arkansas.
The Miss USA 2012 pageant kicked off live at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The two-hour show featured musical performances from Akon and Cobra Starship, along with comments by special correspondents Jeannie Mai from “How Do I Look?” and Kelly Osbourne. Cobra Starship performed their number as the beautiful girls walked up and down the stage in swimwear.
Akon performed his latest single as the top five ladies paraded the stage in evening gowns.
The judges were Marilu Henner, Arsenio Hall, Ali Fedotowsky, Rob Kardashian, Dayana Mendoza, Joe Jonas, Cat Cora, and George Kotsiopoulos.
Special awards’ winners were Miss Iowa, Rebecca Hodge (Miss Congeniality) and Miss Oregon, Alaina Bergsman (Miss Photogenic).
The winner was asked about transgenders competing in pageants, if they deserve to win the crown as much as natural born women. Miss Rhode Island responded: “I accept that because I believe it is a free country.”
It is the first time the public was able to send in questions via Twitter to the contestants.
Culpo will represent the USA in Miss Universe 2012, in December.
The show
Top 5: yes, the short one won
In general terms, the show was disappointing. After an amazing 2011 edition, Miss USA decided for a retro edition and walked backwards. It really felt like we were transported back to the 1990′s.
The opening number, for example, was very similar to the one seen in Miss USA 1997 (also a ‘fashion show’ which, by the way, was better executed – see it HERE). It was a fashion walk with outfits far from being ‘fashionable’: clothes truly beyond tacky and outdated.
The pageant’s format adopted in 2011 (Top 16-8-4) is also gone, and back to the traditional 16-10-5. So is the way the 16 quarter-finalists are called – the regional division no longer took place, taking away excitement and originality from the announcement.
- Top 10
It must be said that the group of 16 quarter-finalists was pretty much coherent, though. The main surprises were Maine and Arkansas (the last one chosen by public voting). The biggest upset was the early exclusion of Miss California.
Cobra Starship performed as the 16 paraded in swimsuits. It was a nice number, but again, it felt like a production from the 1990′s.
The ‘top 10′, again, was within the expected, except for Colorado (who resembled the character Janice, from the sitcom FRIENDS – “OH-MY-GOOOOD!”), who might have been placed by Michigan. Other than that, the judges did a great job.
After the gown competition, 3 of the heavy favorites advanced to the final stage of competition, Nevada, Georgia and Ohio, and the group was completed by two girls who truly shined throughout the night and earned their spots hands down: Rhode Island and Maryland. Texas and Oklahoma stayed behind.
There were three positive features in the pageant: the tribute to Dick Clark, who hosted the pageant in the late 1980′s and early 1990′s and passed away earlier this year, the top 5 interacting with pop star Akon, who sang and danced to the sound of “America’s Most Wanted”, and Alyssa Campanella’s touching farewell (“Leila, você é linda!“, which means, “Leila, you are beautiful”, in Portuguese).
Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic once again nailed the presentation, which was expected.
Winning reaction
However, all the excitement, emotion, and great music from the 2011 edition, unfortunately were not part of this year’s production.
As for the winner, it looked like the final interview was decisive for the judges. Rhode Island gave an open-minded opinion about a hot topic in pageantry, which is the participation of transgenders, and at that point she gained the judges and the local crowd.
Ohio messed up when saying that “Pretty Woman” was the best example of women portrayed in a positive way in movies, and Nevada, perhaps “the one to beat”, came across a bit too arrogant (or over confident) all night long.
Maryland gave the second best answer, and finished 2nd. Georgia was stunning, but lacked energy on stage. Overall, results were fair, and Miss Rhode Island was a surprising, but deserving winner.
Olivia Culpo is one of the shortest Miss USA winners in history (1.66 m), but her stunning face, radiant smile, and great stage presence, that without mentioning her unquestionable intelligence and wit, might take her far in Miss Universe.
After all, don’t they say that it’s your attitude that determines your altitude?
It’s party time in Rhode Island! Photos Miss Universe L.P., LLLP
Hola chulas hermosas. Le quiero dar la bienvenida a Olivia chiquita bonita hermosa chula, al grupo selecto de reinas de belleza como yo. Esta niña es muy linda y es cierto que no llega al 1.70, pero recuerden que Jimenita hermosa Navarrete tambien es chiquita de estatura.
En Miss Universo no hay restricciones en cuanto a la estatura, seria tonto de parte de ellos pues las mujeres alrededor del mundo son tan diversas, asi es que si Donaldcito Trump no pone objeción Porque lo quieren hacer Ustedes fans hermosos?
Les mando cariños y muchos dulces
Pretty winner but ugly crown
I second that, never liked that crown! those parts on the edge look like horns!
Great and deserving winner. Somewhat surprised (maybe not) by the negative posts. Beautiful, talented and smart girl. She’ll do well.
Obvio q ela não tem 1,70. Compare ela com as outras meninas no desfile de traje de banho, onde todas vestem o mesmo sapato. No wikipedia há muitas mentiras.
Sim, não é a melhor fonte, mas que outra você tem? Se a altura dela está errada, a das outras também pode estar. Maryland pode ter 1,90 m. Nevada 1,82 m. Geórgia 1,81 m. Faz sentido. Sem fonte dá de dizer qualquer coisa que faça certo sentido.
She seems to be smart, humble and nice, aside from having a pretty face.
I think that most of the girls were prepared to answer the “transgender” question. But Rhode Island was the lucky one. Thus, the rest is history. I’m just not sure if she can still beat the odds during the Miss Universe competition.
No delaware? Disappointing
A Wikipédia diz que ela tem 5’7”, ou seja, 1,70 m. A altura de 1,66 m vem de onde? Falaram com Olivia?
Wikipedia tambem diz q o mundo vai acabar no 2012. Vc acredita tudo o q lee la? So tem q ver o video.
Onde dizem que o mundo vai acabar em 2012? Não encontrei.
Nenhum outro lugar diz a altura dela. De onde vocês tiraram essa altura então? Fonte?
Vc vai tirar sua vida tentando provar uma tontera como uma altura duma miss? Quando Olivia venceu no Miss Rhode Island tem informacao q ela tem 5’5″ da altura, Faca a conversao online. Entao, quando vc ve o show, pode ver q ela e baixinha. Nao e nada malo. Nao posso entender porque algumas pessoas vam tomar esto como um ataque quando e so realidade. Quando Tara Conner venceu Miss USA no 2006, ela tem 1.65 m e ninguem ficou ferido.
Meu querido, não sei onde você viu isso como um ataque. EU FIZ UMA PERGUNTA. PEDI A FONTE DE UMA FORMA EDUCADA e sem usar de sarcasmos como esse do fim do mundo em 2012.
Se vc tivesse feito a pergunta duma manera correita entao nao tariamos ainda discutindo. Mais nao tem q ver com vc, o punto e o mesmo. Wikipedia nao e uma boa fonte pra verificar informacao.
Obrigado pela visita.
Ok, querido. Então, convenhamos que Wikipédia não é realmente a melhor fonte do mundo assim como o olhômetro também não. Até a próxima.
Perto das meninas que dizem ter 1,70 m ela parece ter a mesma altura. Agora, óbvio que se for comparar com as outras do top 5 ela vai ser menor. Perto da Alyssa, nas fotos da coroação, ela é pouca coisa menor e Alyssa informa no site oficial dela que tem 5’8”1/2 = 174 cm. Sim, os saltos podem ter medidas diferentes, mas no top 10 ela ficou entre duas das mais altas do concurso, com mais de 1,78 m.
Nevada’s question did not demand a winning answer, that’s why she lost. I think they either need to ask the same final question, or, ensure that the questions are all equal in terms of difficulty and relevance. Rhode Island was a good choice, but I think Miss USA lost out on a candidate who could had done so much better in Miss Universe – Miss Nevada.
By the way she is 20 years old not 19 GB.
Thanks!
She is 20 years old, according to yahoo.com
I personally enjoyed the retro style show. The “reality” vibe of the previous pageants and the regional choosing of contestants is gone. Thank goodness. I also liked that scores were not shown. It adds to the surprise and suspense. The level of contestants was very high for several girls. I was surprised with Colorado, South Carolina, Maine and Arkansas. I would have replaced them with Indiana, California, S. Dakota, Connecticut, Kansas or N. Carolina. Some contestants improved in my standing during the pageant (Rhode Island, Maryland and New Jersey) and Nevada was way better than I originally thought. Very stunning (with Alabama my 2 faves). The winner is very pretty. Good luck to her in Miss Universe.
Thumbs up, Kiki! I agree with everything you said…except I do like the judges scores being shown (or at least an agregate score).
Clapper-NOT! She will most definately make the Top 5 at Miss Universe. She knows how to work the runway, did you see how she had that dress flying in the air when she made he ‘final look’entrance…angelic! She also has the ability to think on the spot so that NOONE was offended. Those are two important qualities Miss Universe look for. So what she is only 5’7″, several girls who were shorter than that have won Miss Universe. She is a POWERHOUSE and something to be reckon with for all you nah sayers.We love Miss USA 2012 and we can’t wait to see you make the Top 5 @ Miss Universe!
I think that the new Miss USA is pretty and among the top five she deserves to win the crown… however, not sure that the top 16 was the best choices… at the end it seemed like everything was done to give the crown to Rhode Island… and guys no matter how tall, short, gorgeous and not so pretty the Miss USA is she will always place in the MU period so you dont need luck.
clapper . Texas was robbed , Maryland was robbed too
Maryland was not robbed, she didn’t answer her question and wasn’t that beautiful. Texas wasn’t that beautiful if you look at her and her gown was too short.
i think miss usa will win for miss u 2012,miss malaysia 1st runner up and miss thailand 2nd runner up…miss philippines will be the last and because she so ugly like panike queen sa barangay lapaan cagayan de oro city…..
you are crazy…..
totally crazy pinoy this guy has a small brain that can cause chaotic in big community…..janine is fighter,,,have faith and optimistic,,unless you are chinese….
I am not convinced with her answer…for me…transgender is allow to join, but definitely not deserve to win. for sure…she is clapper this december
I agree…but since its USA she will make it to the top 15 or 16 w/e they decide this year but will not go any further…
FALSE. She is 5.7 – 1.70
no mientan ni engañen
Es hermosa la chica, pero vieron el concurso o no? es obvio que no llega al 1.70. Comparenla con las otras chicas, incluso con Alyssa Campanella.
i thought it will be ohio since she has a great answer very tall beautiful stunning women this girl miss rhode islan is an example of david and goliath her runners up are very tall 6 feet the tallest and 5’9 the shortest and this lady is only 5’5 or 5’6 another tara conner really short
She is not gonna win MU…I recorded the show and watched it over and over to see why she won…The only answer I have is that any girl would have had the crown if she had picked that question and answered “YES BECAUSE AMERICA IS A FREE COUNTRY”…obviously she did not want to repeat Carrie Prejean’s “honest mistake” and people do not forget that two of the judges were openly gay it play big time on Rhode Island favor…
Can you upload the show for those that missed it? Please and Thanks!
We don’t have the rights to do that Paris, but somebody must be uploading the show to YouTube as we speak… We might provide the links later. Cheers!
go to nbc.com you should be able to watch it there
Agreed.
Hey, Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner isn’t tall at tall and she was fourth runner up at Miss Universe
Good Luck to Miss Rhode Island at Miss Universe in December. It’s sound so strange saying Miss Universe in December.
She is short but quite beautiful. Facially she is prettier than most Miss Universe contestants chosen so far. She will do well.
Olivia is very pretty, but this year the south american queens especially Venezuela, Colombia and Puerto Rico comes stronger than ever, only Ohio and Nevada could stop them
Beauty is not confined to just South American beauty and that’s why ratings go down every year, it’s just not fair and it’s too boring.
Don’t forget Ecuador.
She really answer very very well her final question, she has beautiful face and healthy body. I really hope she can make top5 this year on miss universe. Maryland was my favorite of the night…. but I think she didn’t win because of her age 27.
I think Maryland placed too high. She wasn’t that beautiful and she didn’t even answer her question.
Pretty girl but too short. USA will be clapping for sure.
Omg!!!!!! I dnt belive it!!!!!! Texas was the only real who hace a chance at miss universe!!! This one is boring!!!!!!!
She is too short. She wont make it in Miss Universe.
Don’t worry…. she use high heels like 8 cm…. so she is actually 174cm…..
great choice and she had the winning answer with the final question…..
Hi five for the short girls….
Short clapper for sure
You’re a clapper in the audience. LOL
Haha nice one.
Once again they didn’t say the venue of the Miss Universe 2012 pageant, they only said it would be in December….more suspense…and the winner answered very well the question about the transgenders in beauty pageants!!!!