(NEWSER) – For the first time since 1997, Miss USA has won the Miss Universe pageant. Rhode Island's Olivia Culpo, 20, ended last night's competition in Las Vegas ahead of 88 other contestants. "It's such an honor to be representing the USA in an international beauty contest in spite of all the tragedy that's happened in this country lately," she said afterward. "I really hope that this this will raise everybody's spirits a little." Who is Culpo? The Boston University sophomore calls herself a "cellist nerd": She's played at Carnegie Hall and jammed with Yo-Yo Ma.
