PAGEANT UPDATES: Miss USA 2011 is Miss California, Alyssa Campanella!

The new Miss USA 2011 Alyssa CAmpanella was crowned by her predecessor, Rima Fakih.

Twenty-one year-old Alyssa Campanella has been crowned as Miss USA 2011 in a pageant event held at Las Vegas, Nevada on July 19th. Campanella, who stands 1.74 m. tall, was 1st runner-up in Miss Teen USA 2007. Upon crowning as Miss USA 2011, Campanella has earned the credit to represent her country at Miss Universe 2011 pageant to be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 12.

First runner-up was Miss Tennessee, Ashley Durham. Miss Alabama , Madelaine Mitchell and Miss Texas, Ana Rodriguez named second and third runners-up respectively.

Including in the Top 8 are Angela Byrd (Hawaii), Ashley Lynn Marble (Maine), Allyn Rose (Maryland), and Courtney Turner (South Carolina).

Completing the Top 16 are Brittany Brannon (Arizona), Lissette Garcia (Florida), Kaylin Reque (Georgia); Jillian Wunderlich (Indiana), Hope Driskill (Missouri), Amber Collins (New York), Jaimie Crandall (Utah), and the America's choice's Brittany Toll (New Mexico).

Kentucky's Kia Hampton won Miss Congeniality while Brittany Brannon of Arizona won Miss Photogenic.

This year marks the new format of Miss USA 2011 final competition. From the old format of 15 semi-finalist during the finals, it was increased to 16. But the second elimination, only 8 finalists remained, changing the 10 finalists of the old format. Then at the final portion four were chosen.

The program were presented by Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic. Color commentators were Kelly Osbourne and Miss USA 2003 Sussie Castillo.

Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella wves her hand to the screaming audience upon crowning as Miss USA 2011.