While it was mentioned during the Miss USA broadcast that six of 11 contestants
couldn't name the Vice President of the United States,
it's safe to say Olivia Culpo wasn't
one of them – she's a bit of a brainiac.
After graduating high school with high honors,
Culpo has continued her high marks at Boston University. As a sophomore, she has made the
dean's list in every semester. She even speaks a little bit of Italian!
You could call her a band geek, ever heard of Carnegie Hall? Or Boston Symphony Hall? Well, Olivia Culpo has played both of them
– and she only recently turned 20!
Coming from a musical background
(her parents were musicians), Culpa began studying cello in the second grade.
She has since played in hundreds of concerts and was accepted into the musical
program in the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina.
The judge's panel included Arsenio Hall, Joe Jonas, and Rob Kardashian, who made a dig at the
contestants saying they wore too much makeup and their hair was too big. Kelly Osbourne was
a roving reporter. Akon and Cobra Starship performed. Of course Donald Trump,
who co-owns the Miss Universe Organization with NBC, was front and center as well.
"I was just so surprised, so shocked, so honored to be there," she said of her win.
Rounding out the top five contestants were first runner-up Nana Meriwether of Maryland,
second runner-up Audrey Bolte of Ohio, third runner-up Jade Kelsall of Nevada and fourth
runner-up Jasmyn Wilkins of Georgia.
Culpo demonstrated an outgoing personality throughout the competition, blowing a kiss and shimmying across the stage during
the opening number. She cited Hepburn as her source of inspiration, noting her many years of volunteer work.
"She was beautiful on the outside but also beautiful on the inside," said Culpo, who sang the chorus of "Funny Face" from her favorite movie of the same name after her win.
Miss Iowa USA Rebecca Hodge was named Miss Congeniality, and Miss Oregon USA Alaina Bergsma was named the most photogenic.
They both won $1,000, but didn't make the top 16.
The Miss USA competition is not affiliated with the Miss America pageant.
