MAIN Art & ... Pop Culture Miss USA 2012

also see -> Miss America

Miss California Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella

Watch for this year's festivities to be televised on NBC in June when 51 contestants from around the country gather in Las Vegas to complete in the 61st annual Miss USA Pageant in 2012.

Miss USA 2011

The historic 60th annual Miss USA pageant was televised live from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on NBC on Sunday, June 19 at 9PM ET — when Miss USA Rima Fakih 2010 crowned her successor Miss California Alyssa Campanella as Miss USA 2011 — who will go on to represent the USA in the 2011 Miss Universe Pageant.

Following the traditional swimsuit and evening gown competitions on pageant night, judges had narrowed the field of 51 Miss USA contestants to their four favorites. They included Miss Tennessee Ashley Durham, Miss Texas Ana Rodriguez, Miss Alabama Madeline Mitchell, and the winner, Miss California Alyssa Campanella.

Taking this year's title of Miss Photogenic was Miss Arizona, Brittany Brannon, while the award for Miss Congenialty went to Miss Arizona, Brittany Brannon.

How She's Chosen .

Contestants are required to be at least 18 and not yet 27 years old. Each contestant from all 50 states and the District of Columbia are judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview.

Interesting Miss USA Factoids

Left, Halle Berry (Miss Ohio) at the Miss USA 1986 beauty pageant.

• The Miss USA pageant was conceived in 1950 when Yolande Betbeze, winner of the rival Miss America pageant, refused to pose for publicity pictures while wearing a swimsuit. Pageant sponsor Catalina decided to pull their sponsorship, and create their own competition.

• The first Asian American woman to win Miss USA was Macel Wilson in 1962; the first Hispanic was Laura Martinez-Herring in 1985; the first African-American was Carole Gist in 1990; and the first Miss USA of Middle-Eastern descent was Rima Fakih in 2010.

• The actress Halle Berry was introduced to the world as Miss Ohio, first runner-up in the Miss USA contest in 1986 (Miss Texas, Christy Fichtner, was crowned that year). However, Berry's movie career was launched by the publicity she received and the amazing beauty and poise she presented to the world.

Miss USA Controversies

Tara Elizabeth Conner was the Kentucky beauty who captured the Miss USA title in 2006. Months later, however, she was under threat of losing her crown due to "inappropriate behavior" amid reports she had visited New York City bars when she was not yet 21.

Days of speculation about her fate ended in a much-publicized Donald Trump press conference on December 19, 2006 when the Miss USA franchise announced that Conner would be allowed a second chance to keep her crown.

Soon after, Miss Nevada Katie Rees faced no second chance at keeping her crown, after she was officially dethroned in January 2007 for compromising photos in various states of undress which instantly went viral around the Web.

Even more unwelcome notoriety came in 2007 when Rachel Smith, the reigning Miss USA, tripped and fell during the evening gown competition at the 2007 Miss Universe pageant..Poised and confident throughout her ordeal, Smith eventually was awarded 4th runner-up.

True to form, Miss USA 2009 was not without controversy following a response from Miss California, Carrie Prejean, to a question on gay marriage. Fumbling for words, the beauty queen stated that she was in favor of the "opposite" of same sex unions, resulting in a mixed audience response of cheers and catcalls.

Prejean, runner-up to Miss North Carolina who won the title, later admitted that the response may have cost her the USA crown. However, two weeks later, semi-nude photos of the California pageant queen surfaced on the Internet. Prejean was expected to face the consequences for the racy photos - taken when she was 17 - as rumors buzzed that she was to be stripped of her Miss California crown and title.

However, on Monday, May 12, 2009 in a press conference led by pageant owner Donald Trump the announcement came that the beauty queen would be allowed to retain her crown, citing 21st century attitudes toward "model" photos.

Yet, weeks later on June 10 Trump reversed his decision and fired Prejean citing her failure to live up to her contract since the nude photo scandal. Prejean was replaced with Miss California runner-up Tami Farrell.

More about Miss USA around the Web:

Miss USA Beauty Pageant Official Site - The place to be for everything you always wanted to know, featuring behind-the-scenes at the Miss USA Pageant, related trivia, history, info on past shows, a past-winners' photo gallery and media contact and registration info.

Pageant Place - MTV's nod to the Miss USA pageant with a reality TV-based look at the posh pads of America's top beauty queens including fashion, makeup and beauty tips.

Coverage of the Miss USA Pageant - Turn for the Judges features trivia, current info, news and plenty of photos of Miss USA contestants.

Miss USA - Brief history, a list of winners dating back to 1952 and related pictures, links to current pageant contestants & bios, a comprehensive schedule of events leading up to the pageant, interesting trivia, links to further information from Wikipedia.

Pageantry Magazine Online - Good coverage of general pageant information and interviews with a few of the past Miss USA winners - plus facts & information for hair, make up, fitness and modeling tips for aspiring beauty queens.

Dina, Inc - The place for official pageant jewelry and tiaras. Rhinestones sparkling brightly...

also see -> Miss America | Miss World