The Internet buzzed Monday with chatter about Rima Fakih, the Lebanese immigrant who was crowned Miss USA Sunday night.
Fakih, the 24-year-old Miss Michigan, came to the United States as a baby and has lived in Michigan since 2003. Fakih, who is Muslim, is believed to be the first crowned as Miss USA. But pageant officials said they could not confirm that.
Despite a stumble in her evening gown, Fakih beat out 50 other women for the title in the competition now owned by Donald Trump. She will go on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant.
The other finalists included: Miss Maine USA Katherine Whittier, fourth runner-up; Miss Colorado USA Jessica Hartman, third runner-up; Miss Virginia USA Samantha Casey, second runner-up; and Miss Oklahoma USA Morgan Elizabeth Woolard, first runner-up.
This year's pageant sparked controversy earlier this month when the official pageant photos were released featuring racy images of the ladies in lingerie. Trump dismissed detractors who called the risqué photos tasteless or a publicity stunt. Though some contestants were reportedly distressed about posing semi-nude, in the end they all went along with The Donald.
Absent this year from the Top 15 semi-finalists was Miss Georgia USA Cassady Lance,24, of Savannah. Since the competition began in 1952, the state has had 12 runner-ups. The closest Georgia came to the crown was in 1993, when Erin Nance took first runner-up.
Here's how Georgia entrants have ranked over the past 10 years:
2009 Kimberly Gittings Top 15
2008 Amanda Kozak Non-Finalist
2007 Brittany Swann Non-Finalist
2006 Lisa Wilson 2nd Runner-Up
2005 Tanisha Brito Non-Finalist
2004 Caroline Medley Top 10
2003 Erin Haney Non-Finalist
2002 Heather Hogan Non-Finalist
2001 Tiffany Fallon 2nd Runner-up
2000 Patti Dunn 4th Runner-up
Source: www.missgeorgiausa.com
-- The Associated Press contributed to this story
About the Author
The Latest
Featured
