women to take the 2010 Miss USA title on
Sunday.
Rima Fakih of Dearborn, Michigan, won the
pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
on the Las Vegas Strip after swimsuit, evening
gown and interview competitions.
When asked how she felt about winning the
crown, she said, "Ask me after I've had a pizza."
Fakih nearly fell while finishing her walk in a long,
strapless gown because of the length of its train,
but she made it without a spill and went on to
win.
During the interview portion, Fakih was asked
whether she thought birth control should be paid
for by health insurance, and she said she believed
it should because it's costly.
"I believe that birth control is just like every other
medication even though it's a controlled
substance," Fakih said.
Fakih replaces Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton and
won a spot representing the United States in the
2010 Miss Universe pageant. She also gets a one-
year lease in a New York apartment with living
expenses, an undisclosed salary, and various
health, professional and beauty services.
Miss Oklahoma USA Morgan Elizabeth Woolard
was named first runner-up after handling a
question about Arizona's strict new immigration
law. Woolard said she supports the law, which
requires police enforcing another law to verify a
person's immigration status if there's "reasonable
suspicion" that the person is in the country
illegally.
She said she's against illegal immigration but is
also against racial profiling.
"I'm a huge believer in states' rights. I think that's
what's so wonderful about America. So I think it's
perfectly fine for Arizona to create that law."
"The Office" actor Oscar Nunez was booed as he
asked the question and asked the audience to wait
until he finished the question before they reacted.
Miss Virginia USA Samantha Evelyn Casey was
the second runner-up, Miss Colorado USA Jessica
Hartman was third runner-up, and Miss Maine
USA Katherine Ashley Whittier was the fourth
runner-up.
Most of the field of contestants from all 50 states
and Washington were eliminated just after the
pageant began and the entire group danced
onstage to "TiK ToK" by Ke$ha.
A panel of eight judges, including NBA star
Carmelo Anthony and Treasure Island casino-
hotel owner Phil Ruffin, were judging the women
throughout the night.
After 15 contestants strutted in swimsuits, five
were eliminated. Another five were eliminated
after the evening gown competition.
Miss Nebraska USA Belinda Renee Wright won
the Miss Congeniality award, roughly one week
after her father was killed in a farm accident. Miss
Alabama USA Audrey Moore won Miss
Photogenic after an online fan vote.
The pageant aired on NBC. The network owns the
pageant in a joint venture with Donald Trump.
The competition, which is not affiliated with the
Miss America pageant, was hosted by celebrity
chef Curtis Stone and NBC correspondent Natalie
Morales.
Associated Press
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