The new Miss Universe 2012 is Miss USA from Rhode Island who takes the crown from the reigning Miss Universe, Miss Angola.
Olivia Culpo took the crown from Leila Lopes of Angola after she dazzled the crowd and judges in a purple and blue bikini and later, in a red velvet gown.
Miss Philippines, Janine Tugonon, came in second, while Miss Venezuela, Irene Sofia Esser Quintero, placed third.
This is the first time Miss USA takes the Miss Universe crown in over a decade. Contestants from 89 countries on six continents spent the past two weeks in Las Vegas.
The 16 semifinalists were: Miss Venezuela Irene Esser, Miss Turkey Cagil Ozge Ozkul, Miss France Marie Payet, Miss Peru Nicole Faveron, Miss Russia Elizabeth Golovanova, Miss Mexico Karina Gonzalez, Miss Poland Marcelina Zawadzka, Miss Hungary Agnes Konkoly, Miss South Africa Melinda Bam, Miss Philippines Janine Tugonon, Miss Croatia Elizabeta Burg, Miss Brazil Gabriela Markus, Miss Kosovo Diana Avdiu, Miss Australia Renae Ayris, Miss India Shilpa Singh and Miss USA Olivia Culpo.
The pageant aired live on NBC and was streamed to more than 100 countries.
The panel of 10 judges included singer Cee Lo Green, "Iron Chef" star Masaharu Morimoto and Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants.
