Miss California wins Miss USA

Alyssa Campanella, 21 from New Jersey, won the title Miss USA Monday (Sunday, USA time).

In October 2006, Campanella was crowned Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2007 and represented her state in the Miss Teen USA 2007. She placed first runner up to Hilary Cruz of Colorado.

She also competed in Miss New Jersey USA pageant twice. She placed first runner up in 2008 and in the top 15 in 2009.

In November 2010, she also competed in the Miss California USA pageant and won the title. She was also a Miss Teen USA state delegate to represent California in the Miss USA pageant.

As the Miss USA title holder, she will be competing in the Miss Universe pageant this September.

Campanella is naturally a blond but had dyed her hair for a play a few years ago and never went blond again.

She also has revealed that she was a "huge history geek" with interests in the Tudor and Stuart periods. — DBL