And the New Miss USA is….

The 60^th new Miss USA was crowned last night. The winner was the lovely Olivia Culpo, a 20-year-old beauty from Rhode Island.

Culpo looked lovely in her fuchsia-colored evening gown accented with a diamond-crusted neckline and two prominent platinum streaks in her hair while she stood holding hands with the first runner-up, Miss Maryland Nana Meriwether, as they stood in anticipation during the annoying long pause before the winner was announced. While Meriwether looked beyond nervous and ready to faint, Culpo looked to the audience and gave a broad smile and look that said, “What is taking so long?” as she laughed at the drama of it all.

When Culpo’s name was (finally!) announced, her hands involuntarily shot up to her cheeks to hold her dropped jaw, as she as clearly surprised but elated. She quickly regained her composure and hugged Meriweather before ducking down to have her sash and crown placed on her. She held it together very well long enough to take the stroll down the catwalk, and as soon as she thought the cameras were done taking their pictures, her hand went back to her forehead in disbelief.

Culpo describes herself as “a modern-day Audrey Hepburn” and we can certainly see why. The sincerity of her shock and excitement at winning was endearing.

"I was just so surprised, so shocked, so honored to be there," she tweeted after the win.

Culpo had been dealt a hot-topic question in her interview section of the pageant, but handled it with ease and an answer that would please most. When asked how she would feel about a transgender woman being allowed to win the Miss USA title over a natural-born woman, Culpo responded, “I do think that that would be fair, but I can understand that people would be a little apprehensive to take that road because there is a tradition of natural-born women. But today where there are so many surgeries and so many people out there who have a need to change for a happier life, I do accept that because I believe it's a free country.”

The question was inspired by the uproar caused when another recent beauty pageant that allowed a transgender woman to participate as a contestant.

The audience was studded with stars, including Joe Jonas, Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Osbourne, and Bachelorette alumni Ali Fedotowsky.

Congratulations to Miss Culpo and good luck at the Miss Universe contest!