Miss USA, Olivia Culpo, former Miss Rhode Island USA, competed this week at the Miss Universe pageant against 88 other contestants representing countries from across the globe. Olivia is the 2nd Miss USA to ever capture the Miss Universe crown. The first time a Miss USA was crowned was in 1997! Another awesome fact is that she was crowned in Las Vegas. I've rarely seen girls who represent their country get crowned in the host country of the Miss Universe pageant.
Olivia entered the Miss Rhode Island USA pageant and it was her very first pageant when she won her state title. She then went forward to win the Miss USA title and then Miss Universe. Girls all over the country compete YEARS on end trying to get a state title just to go to Miss USA. I am floored that this girl basically won the superbowl of pageants and knew hardly a thing about them nearly 2 years ago.
“It’s such an honor to be representing the USA in an international beauty contest in spite of all the tragedy that’s happened in this country lately,” she said. “I really hope that this this will raise everybody’s spirits a little.” The daughter of two professional musicians, Culpo grew up in Cranston and spent her summers at band camp. 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.
Her father called her the “nerdiest” of her siblings, and her brother recalled that she was “really chubby and sort of weird when she was younger.”
With her promotion of the title of Miss Universe, Miss Maryland, 1st runner up to Miss USA, Nana Meriwether becomes the new Miss USA.
I LOVE THIS GIRL. She is so classy. I LOVED her evening gown because it was so classy. I get really sick of reading about bad beauty queens drinking and driving, doing cocaine, pole dancing, etc. I loved last years Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella because of how classy she is and I love Olivia as well. I think that MAYBE the Miss Universe Organization is changing for the better. :)
Olivia Culpo graduated from St. Mary Academy Bay View in 2010 as a member of the National Honor Society. In high school, Olivia’s love for Italian language gave her the opportunity to take part in two foreign language programs to Milan, Italy. She continues her education as a sophomore at Boston University and has been placed on the Dean’s List every semester.
Olivia was raised in musically rich surroundings, with her parents both having begun their professional lives as musicians. In the second grade, Olivia began studying the cello and went on to participate in the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, RI Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble, Bay View Orchestra and Rhode Island All-State Orchestra. As a cellist, Olivia won a seat in the Boston Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall in New York City, and a tour of England in 2010. She was accepted into an intensive summer music program at the Brevard Music Center, in North Carolina for two summers. She continues to perform with the Boston University Accompanietta.
(Bio courtesy of the Miss Universe Organization)
(source: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/olivia-culpo-wins-universe-2012-article-1.1224290?pgno=1)
{everything in pink is my own writing}
I love this picture of her. :)
Pictures of Olivia as Lady Liberty in her National Costume, during the Swimsuit competition and during the Evening Gown competition
Top 5 at Miss Universe
1st Runner up Miss Philippines & the crowning of Miss USA as the new Miss Universe
She's a lovely young lady and I like that she's so talented too. 
