Miss California, a 21-year old Los Angeles-based beauty, was crowned Miss USA 2011 on Sunday at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Alyssa Campenella succeeds Muslim-born Rima Fakih, the 2010 winner of the Donald Trump-owned pageant. During her reign, Fakih competed in the USA network reality show Tough Enough.

Campenella showed off her model good looks in the evening gown and swimsuit competition, the latter of which revealed a visble rib cage.

Miss California's answers in the interview segment set her apart from the competitor pool.

Campanella was one of only two contestants who answered that evolution should unequivocally be taught in schools. Miss California expressed more ambivalence about whether marijuana should be legalized, saying she would be kind of a little bit against it because the drug is abused, but she supports medicinal use.

Campanella evening gown
Miss 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 Reuters
Campanella swimsuit
Alyssa Campanella competes in the swimsuit portion of the 2011 Miss USA pageant, wearing a revealing blue and white polkadot bikini. Reuters
Campanella reacts as she is named one of the four finalists.
Campanella reacts as she is named one of the four finalists. Reuters
Campanella runner up
Miss California edged out her best friend, Miss Tennessee Ashley Elizabeth Durham, to win the Miss USA 2011 crown. Reuters
victory Lap
Campanella begins her victory lap after Rima Fakih, Miss USA 2010, relinquished her crown. Reuters
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