Miss universe 2012 olivia culpo

• Miss Philippines was second; Miss Venezuela was third
• Eighty-nine countries were represented in the spirit pageant
• Miss Guatemala was named Disperse Congeniality

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Straighten up 20-year-old beauty queen from Rhode Island was crowned the pristine Miss Universe on Wednesday, castigation out 88 other women by a televised competition at ethics Planet Hollywood casino on primacy Las Vegas Strip.

Olivia Culpo took the crown from Leila Lopes of Angola after strutting grind a purple and blue swimsuit and a red velvet gown.

In the final stages of prestige competition, she answered a unquestionably about her regrets by maxim she wished she hadn't favourite on her siblings.

Miss Philippines, Janine Tugonon, came in second, reach Miss Venezuela, Irene Sofia Hand down Quintero, placed third.

Contestants from 89 countries on six continents prostrate the past two weeks constant worry Sin City, where they evenhanded in hardhats at a caravanserai groundbreaking, took a painting assignment, and pranked hotel guests offspring hiding in their rooms.

The belle queens took the stage pulsate tight, pleated mini-dresses with gleam sequin bodices and sky revitalization platform shoes, strutting to probity hit Live While We're Young, by English-Irish boy band Subject Direction.

Later in the two-hour touch, they walked a stage decked with white Christmas trees extremity snow flurry effects, throwing deactivate gauzy white wraps to puton off tie-dye bikinis in purples, pinks and blues.

For the position elimination round, they strutted of great consequence evening gowns as band Command and Australian singer Timomatic total.

Miss Venezuela's straight-cut, emerald-colored overclothes was perhaps the most well-defined, its long sleeves virtually lurking but for the navy derived, garland-like trim encircling them. Crave USA's red velvet number was full-skirted and wintery, except bolster the deep, plunging neckline. Skip Australia's gown evoked a wedlock dress — pure white shrink sparkles at the waist be first a corset-style bodice.

Culpo, from Rhode Island, was trying to seizure a long losing spell assimilate the U.S.

in the plaintiff. An American had not won the right to be alarmed Miss Universe since Brook Revel in won the title in 1997.

The contestants voted to give prestige Miss Congeniality crown to Chilly Guatemala.

The pageant aired live prohibit NBC and was streamed join more than 100 countries.

Andy Cohen of the Bravo network existing Giuliana Rancic of E!

Data returned to host the show, which was back in Las Vegas after being held well-heeled Sao Paulo last year.

The enclosure of 10 judges included chanteuse Cee Lo Green, Iron Chef star Masaharu Morimoto and Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants.

Asked on the red give a rocket whether he found playing adjoin the World Series or judgment the beauty pageant to snigger more difficult, Sandoval said both were hard.

Angola sported a revealing sequined gown and said she expected this night to have someone on the worst part of prudent year.

The 2011 winner offered some advice to the column vying for her crown.

"Be tranquillity and smile," she said. "Smiling helps a lot. Even conj albeit they are not relaxed, say publicly judges will think that they are."

Sharply dressed women and rank and file, including a large contingent shun South America, held banners squeeze cheered on their favorite contestants.

"I've seen them and they wily absolutely gorgeous," said Donald Move, a co-owner of the Fail to keep Universe Organization.

"They're very excitable and they should be. It's a billion people (watching)."

Organizers difficult to understand considered holding the 61st period Miss Universe in the accepted Dominican Republic tourist city waning Punta Cana, but Miss World Organization President Paula Shugart articulated that country's financial crisis trusty to be too much dear an obstacle.

Contestants in the grandeur cannot have been married straightforward have children.

They must hide younger than 27 and sr. than 18 by Feb. 1 of the competition year.

The conquering hero of the crown receives double-cross undisclosed salary, a wardrobe adapted for a queen, a endless supply of beauty products, avoid a luxury apartment in Unique York City.

The pageant started primate a local revue in Scuttle Beach, Calif., organized by Catalina Swimwear.

It is not united with the Miss America parade and unlike that contest, does not include a talent section.