Advertisement

Miss USA Crowned Miss Universe

Miss USA Crowned Miss Universe (ABC News)

Miss USA Olivia Culpo brought the Miss Universe crown back to the United States.

The 20-year-old Boston University sophomore was crowned Miss Universe Wednesday night at the Planet Hollywood casino on the Las Vegas Strip, beating 88 other beauty queens.

Click Here to See Photos From the Miss Universe Competition

Miss Philippines, Janine Tugonon, came in second, while Miss Venezuela, Irene Sofia Esser Quintero, placed third.

Culpo was the first Miss USA winner from Rhode Island when she took the national crown in Las Vegas in June.

The panel of 10 judges included singer Cee Lo Green, Food Network "Iron Chef" Masaharu Morimoto and Pablo Sandoval of the 2012 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants.

ADVERTISEMENT

During the interview portion of the telecast, Culpo was asked whether she has ever done anything she regretted.

"I'd like to start off by saying that every experience no matter what it is, good or bad, you'll learn from it. That's just life," Culpo said. "But something I've done I've regretted is probably picking on my siblings growing up, because you appreciate them so much more as you grow older."

The Miss Universe competition began in 1952 when Armi Kuusela of Finland took home the crown. Culpo is the first American to win the competition since Brook Lee of Hawaii won in 1997.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.