Miss California named Miss USA at Las Vegas pageant

Alyssa Campanella, a 21-year-old redhead representing California, was named Miss USA at the annual beauty pageant in Las Vegas on Sunday.

The full-time model, who was born and raised in New Jersey which she represented at the Miss Teen USA contest in 2007, was considered among the favorites by pageant experts.

She will represent the United States at the Miss Universe pageant to be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 12.

Campanella was crowned by incumbent Miss USA, Rima Fakih, a Lebanese-born Muslim who was the first Arab-American to hold the title.

Miss Tennessee came in second, Miss Alabama was third, and Miss Texas was fourth.