At the annual beauty pageant in Las Vegas on Sunday, Alyssa Campanella, who was born and raised in New Jersey, was considered among the favorites by pageant experts.
Incumbent Miss USA, Rima Fakih, a Lebanese-born Muslim who was the first Arab-American to hold the title, crowned Campanella in the contest.
The second was Miss Tennessee, while Miss Alabama came in third, and Miss Texas was fourth.
Miss California Alyssa Campanella (L) begins her walk after being crowned Miss USA 2011 by Rima Fakih (R), Miss USA 2010, during the Miss USA pageant in the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada June 19, 2011. REUTERSMiss California Alyssa Campanella arrives to introduce herself during the 2011 Miss USA pageant in the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada June 19, 2011.REUTERSMiss California Alyssa Campanella reacts after being crowned Miss USA during the 2011 Miss USA pageant in the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada June 19, 2011. REUTERSMiss California Alyssa Campanella competes in the swimsuit portion of the 2011 Miss USA pageant in the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada June 19, 2011. Campanella was later crowned Miss USA 2011. REUTERSMiss California Alyssa Campanella competes in her evening gown during the 2011 Miss USA pageant in the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada June 19, 2011.REUTERSMiss Teen USA 2007 finalists (from L-R) Lauren Caitlin Upton, Hilary Carol Cruz, Chelsea Welch, Kaitlin Coble and Alyssa Campanella stand on stage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California August 24, 2007. REUTERSMiss California Alyssa Campanella (C) reacts as she is chosen as the last of the final four finalists during the 2011 Miss USA pageant in the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 19, 2011. Miss Hawaii Angela Byrd (L) and and Miss Maryland Allyn Rose stand by.Reuters
