Miss Wisconsin, Laura Kaeppeler, was crowned Miss America Saturday night, walking away with a shiny new crown and a $50,000 scholarship.

“In that moment I didn’t know what to think,” the 23-year-old told reporters. “It was all kind of a blur.”

Miss California USA Alyssa Campanella Crowned Miss USA 2011

Twenty-three-year-old Kaeppeler, who performed an operatic vocal for talent, modeled a white bikini for the swimsuit portion of the pageant and a black lace and knit gown for the evening gown competition.

The 91st Miss America titleholder will spend her year traveling the country, promoting the importance of women’s education.

There she is!

[image: WENN]

Sunday night, Miss California USA Alyssa Campanella, 21, was crowned Miss USA 2011 from Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas. Now, the beautiful red head will embark on the journey of lifetime…oh, and she’ll have Donald Trump as a boss. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Miss New York USA Davina Reeves Reigns On Miss USA Rima Fakih’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The New Jersey native told reporters Sunday night that this wasn’t her first crack at the title. As a former Miss New Jersey Teen USA, she came in as 1st runner-up in the Miss Teen USA pageant in 2007. She then competed twice in the Miss New Jersey USA pageant, coming close to winning but never fulfilling her dream until she hopped over to California to capture the title.

Miss Teen USA Megan Burgess Arrested For Public Intoxication (Mugshot)

Among other strange facts about the the new titleholder, she let out the secret that she’s actually a natural blonde:

“It’s really brought out the true Alyssa Campanella, I feel,” she said. “And that’s why I really enjoy being a redhead.”

Congratulations to Alyssa and best of luck as you represent the USA in the Miss Universe pageant!

[image: People]

Former Miss Teen Arkansas USA, Megan Burgess was arrested for public intoxication at the University Of Arkansas dorm, where she is currently studying, last weekend (mug shot above).

The beauty queen was found by the cops sitting in the snow outside after her resident assistant made the call. Megan was totally embarrassed, ashamed and “mortified” for the reckless behavior not accepted for a Miss Teen USA.

However, the Miss USA Organization is defending Megan, saying she “is a sweet girl who exemplifies the values of a Miss Teen title holder and is mortified about this. She even called over to us and said she was ‘sorry if I brought any shame on my state.”

[image: TMZ]

Former Miss California Carrie Prejean, who recently married Kyle Boller (photos here), is set to become a contestant in the upcoming 22nd season of Survivor, which will have a redemption theme.

Kyle Boller & Carrie Prejean At The Beach: Nip Slip PHOTOS HERE

Other rumored cast members of “Survivor: Redemption Island” include names like Russell Hantz (“Survivor: Samoa” and “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains”) and Rob Mariano (“Survivor: Marquesa”, “Survivor: All Stars” and “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains”). Will Carrie, the beauty queen who openly spoke against gay marriage, get the chance to redeem herself or is she beyond salvation?

2010 Survivor Nicaragua: Young vs. Old Cast (PHOTOS, Bios)

More on Miss California Carrie Prejean (including sexy racy photos) go on reading »

Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrette was crowned the 2010 Miss Universe during the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas on Monday (August 23). The 22 year-old promised to honorably represent and promote her home country of Mexico during her year long reign.

2010 Miss Universe Topless Body Paint Photos Stir Controversy

“I want the whole world to know about my country and my people,” the Guadalajara native said. “I imagine that they’re all going crazy in Mexico right now. I’m extremely proud and I’m sure they’re very proud, too.”

Jimena succeeds to 2009 Miss Universe, Stefania Fernandez from Venezuela, becoming the second Mexican Miss Universe after Lupita Jones won the title back in 1991.

Miss Universe won a package of prizes including an undisclosed salary, a luxury New York apartment with living expenses, a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy with housing after her reign, plus jewelry, clothes and shoes fit for a beauty champion.

Miss USA Rima Fakih ‘Stripper 101′ Pole Dancing Scandal (PHOTOS)

Miss USA Rima Fakih didn’t even make the Top 15 at the 2010 Miss Universe.

2010 Miss Universe Jimena Navarrete Pictures go on reading »

The sexy promotional pictures for the 2010 Miss Universe, in which the beauty queens are seen topless and covered in body paint representing their country, are causing a lot of controversy. The photos have already been deemed too sexy and inappropriate for a competition like Miss Universe (pictures below).

2010 Miss USA Scandalous Lingerie Pictures: Too Sexy For Pageant?

Angie Meyer, a former pageant employee, told FOX News: “It’s alarming that this has been turned into a Playboy-esque masquerade by implementing topless photos as part of the pageant process, they’re putting applicants in an extremely compromising position.”

“When you bring nudity into the equation, the pageant no longer becomes about the entire package of brains and beauty. Rather, the focus shifts to body image. The notion that ‘beauty’ embodies absolute physical perfection is a frightening slippery slope, and quite dangerous for young women around the world to adhere to,” she added.

Lark-Marie Anton, a Miss Universe representative, defends the sexy pictures, saying, “The contestants who compete at Miss Universe are diverse. They represent more than 82 countries around the globe. Many of their cultures embrace nudity… We feel the images captured are fashionable and cutting edge!”

Miss Trinidad & Tobago LaToya Woods and Miss USA Rima Fakih both defended the photo shoot as artistic, but they had different approaches. While LaToya posed full frontal with her nipples covered with pasties, the Muslim-American decided to stay true to her beliefs and only exposed her nude back.

Miss USA Rima Fakih ‘Stripper 101′ Pole Dancing Scandal (PHOTOS)

“They exaggerated the curves of my body; it was in no way derogatory. It was an artistic expression. It expressed liberty, freedom, sexuality. That is what Miss Universe is all about,” LaToya told Pop Tarts.

“For me, I like to do the back,” Rima said. “I didn’t want to do the front for many reasons, and one of them being in respect, I’m Arab, I’m Muslim, and I didn’t want to disappoint many people.”

Miss Universe Topless Body Paint Slightly NSFW Pictures go on reading »

Former Miss California Carrie Prejean, who sparked controversy with her anti gay marriage statement, topless photos and multiple sex tapes, and her boyfriend, NFL quarterback Kyle Boller are set to tie the knot in a small ceremony at The Grand Del Mar hotel in San Diego on Friday (July 2).

Kyle Boller & Carrie Prejean At The Beach: Nip Slip PHOTOS HERE>>

Carrie and Kyle started dating late last year and got engaged before Valentine’s Day 2010. When it’s true love, why wait? Or Carrie wants to save whatever is left of her reputation by making it legal. She will be able to have lots of opposite sex with Jesus’ approval.

More on Miss California Carrie Prejean (including sexy racy photos) go on reading »

Miss USA 2010 winner Rima Fakih, who became the first Arab-American girl to be crowned the most beautiful in the country last night (May 16), has a dirty secret past as a pole-dancing queen (pole dancing pictures below).

Miss Michigan, Rima Fakih, Wins Miss USA 2010 (Photos)

The 26 year-old Miss Michigan was also the winner of the “Stripper 101” competition for a local Detroit radio back in 2007. Rima is gorgeous and knows how to do an incredible pole dance while still managing to keep her clothes on. She is the perfect Miss USA. Sexy and controversial!

Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih Pole Dancing Champion Pictures go on reading »

Miss Michigan, 26-year old Rima Fakih, was named Miss USA 2010 on Sunday night in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

She is the first Arabian and Muslim to be crowned Miss USA.  Fakih is of Lebanese descent.

First runner-up was Miss Oklahoma Morgan Elizabeth Woolard.

Celebrity judges included Olympic skater Johnny Weir, NBA star Carmelo Anthony, Office star Oscar Nunez, Donald Trump’s wife Melania (Donald owns the pageant); ex-Miss USA Tara Conner and celebrity Southern chef Paula Deen.

More Photos of Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih go on reading »

The 2010 Miss USA contestants posed in their sexy lingerie for an ultra sensual promotional photo shoot for the pageant, which caused some hype since some of the most loyal pageant fans claim the photos are too provocative and others defend them as tastefully sexy.

The Miss USA organization told TMZ, “You can have brains and be smart and still be sexy.” Right. But after so much controversy surrounding Carrie Prejean’s topless pictures last year, we wouldn’t expect to see the candidates to future Miss USA wearing racy lingerie or even topless in the pageant pictures. What do you think: are these too sexy for the Miss USA pageant or not?

The Miss USA 2010 will be crowned on Sunday (May 16).

Miss USA 2010 Candidates Sexy Lingerie Pictures Below go on reading »

Former Miss California Carrie Prejean, who posed nude, slipped a nipple a couple of times, made a sex tape and then wrote a book, is officially engaged to be married to her NFL boyfriend, Kyle Boller.

Kyle Boller & Carrie Prejean At The Beach: Nip Slip PICTURES HERE>>

The St. Louis Rams quarterback reportedly went down on one knee to propose this weekend, while the two are enjoying a quiet time at her hometown of San Diego, California, where Kyle also owns a house. The football player and the beauty queen haven’t set a date yet.

Carrie Prejean Is Pregnant With Hubby Kyle Boller’s Baby

More on Miss California Carrie Prejean (including sexy racy photos) go on reading »

Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron was crowned Miss America 2010 Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The 22-year old journalism major sang Beyonce’s ‘Listen’ from Dreamgirls.

The winner of America’s most celebrated pageant beat out Kristy Cavinder (CA), Stefanie Wittler (TN), Katherine Putnam (LA), and Mallory Ervin (KY).

The judges for the pageant were talk show host Rush Limbaugh, comedian Paul Rodriguez, American Idol contestant Brooke White, Dave Koz, Miss America Katie Harman, Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson, and actress Vivica A. Fox.

Top 5

• Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron
• Miss California, Kristy Cavinder
• Miss Tennessee, Stefanie Wittler
• Miss Louisiana, Katherine Putnam
• Miss Kentucky, Mallory Ervin

Top 7 (In Random Order)

• Miss Kentucky, Mallory Ervin
• Miss Tennessee, Stefanie Wittler
• Miss California, Kristy Cavinder
• Miss Hawaii, Raeceen Woolford
• Miss Louisiana, Katherine Putnam
• Miss New Mexico, Nicole Miner
• Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron

Top 10 (In Random Order)

• Miss Kentucky, Mallory Ervin
• Miss Tennessee, Stefanie Wittler
• Miss California, Kristy Cavinder
• Miss Hawaii, Raeceen Woolford
• Miss Louisiana, Katherine Putnam
• Miss District of Columbia, Jen Corey
• Miss New Mexico, Nicole Miner
• Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron
• Miss Texas, Kristen Blair
• Miss Nebraska, Brittany Jeffers

Top 12 (In Random Order)

• Miss Oklahoma, Taylor Treat
• Miss Kentucky, Mallory Ervin
• Miss Tennessee, Stefanie Wittler
• Miss Colorado, Katie Layman
• Miss California, Kristy Cavinder
• Miss Hawaii, Raeceen Woolford
• Miss Louisiana, Katherine Putnam
• Miss District of Columbia, Jen Corey
• Miss New Mexico, Nicole Miner
• Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron
• Miss Texas, Kristen Blair
• Miss Nebraska, Brittany Jeffers

More Photos of Caressa Cameron’s Crowning

[photos: Miss America]