The pageant was held on Sunday night, at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, and saw 51 contestants competing for the title.
Fakih wins despite a fall
Miss Michigan Rima Fakih was crowned Miss USA after swimsuit, evening gown and interview competitions.
During the competition, the gorgeous brunette nearly stumbled in her long, strapless gown because of the length of its train, but soon recovered and ultimately took home the crown, reports The Associated Press.
During the interview portion, Fakih was asked whether she thought birth control should be paid for by health insurance, to which she replied yes.
The Arab American beauty from Michigan beat out 50 other women, including four blondes, to take the 2010 Miss USA title Sunday night.
The first Arab-American to win the title
Fakih is believed to be the first Arab American and Muslim to become Miss USA. She is also the first Michigander to win the title 1993. She won the Miss Michigan title on Sept. 19, 2009.
During the interview portion, Fakih was asked whether she thought birth control should be paid for by health insurance, to which she replied yes.
She said, “I believe that birth control is just like every other medication even though it’s a controlled substance.”
Fakih, who replaces Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton, won a spot representing the United States this summer in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant, a one-year lease on a New York apartment with living expenses and an undisclosed salary.
When asked how she felt about winning the crown, Fakih said, "Ask me after I've had a pizza."
Runner-up ladies
Miss Oklahoma USA Morgan Elizabeth Woolard was named First Runner Up. She was asked about Arizona’s new immigration law, and said she supported 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.
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, according to the AP.
The 59th Miss USA pageant
A panel of eight judges included an eclectic mix: Carmelo Anthony of the NBA's Denver Nuggets and a two-time Olympic medalist; Miss USA 2006, Tara Conner; best-selling author, chef and host of four shows on The Food Network, Paula Deen; star of NBC's hit comedy series, ‘The Office,’ Oscar Nunez; American businessman and real estate mogul, Phil Ruffin; Executive Fashion Editor at Large of Glamour magazine, Suze Yalof-Schwartz; model, Melania Trump, who has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Vanity Fair; and three-time National Champion figure skater and Olympian, Johnny Weir.
The 59th Annual MISS USA Pageant was hosted by internationally-renowned chef and current ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ contestant Curtis Stone and ‘Today’ show co-host and correspondent Natalie Morales, with commentary by comedian Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa.
Fakih wins despite a fall
Miss Michigan Rima Fakih was crowned Miss USA after swimsuit, evening gown and interview competitions.
During the competition, the gorgeous brunette nearly stumbled in her long, strapless gown because of the length of its train, but soon recovered and ultimately took home the crown, reports The Associated Press.
During the interview portion, Fakih was asked whether she thought birth control should be paid for by health insurance, to which she replied yes.
The Arab American beauty from Michigan beat out 50 other women, including four blondes, to take the 2010 Miss USA title Sunday night.
The first Arab-American to win the title
Fakih is believed to be the first Arab American and Muslim to become Miss USA. She is also the first Michigander to win the title 1993. She won the Miss Michigan title on Sept. 19, 2009.
During the interview portion, Fakih was asked whether she thought birth control should be paid for by health insurance, to which she replied yes.
She said, “I believe that birth control is just like every other medication even though it’s a controlled substance.”
Fakih, who replaces Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton, won a spot representing the United States this summer in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant, a one-year lease on a New York apartment with living expenses and an undisclosed salary.
When asked how she felt about winning the crown, Fakih said, "Ask me after I've had a pizza."
Runner-up ladies
Miss Oklahoma USA Morgan Elizabeth Woolard was named First Runner Up. She was asked about Arizona’s new immigration law, and said she supported 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.
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, according to the AP.
The 59th Miss USA pageant
A panel of eight judges included an eclectic mix: Carmelo Anthony of the NBA's Denver Nuggets and a two-time Olympic medalist; Miss USA 2006, Tara Conner; best-selling author, chef and host of four shows on The Food Network, Paula Deen; star of NBC's hit comedy series, ‘The Office,’ Oscar Nunez; American businessman and real estate mogul, Phil Ruffin; Executive Fashion Editor at Large of Glamour magazine, Suze Yalof-Schwartz; model, Melania Trump, who has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Vanity Fair; and three-time National Champion figure skater and Olympian, Johnny Weir.
The 59th Annual MISS USA Pageant was hosted by internationally-renowned chef and current ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ contestant Curtis Stone and ‘Today’ show co-host and correspondent Natalie Morales, with commentary by comedian Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa.
