Olivia Culpo, a 20-year-old cellist, won the title over 51 beautiful women from all over the country.
In the final round to determine the winner, Culpo was asked to answer a question submitted by a pageant follower on Twitter. "Would you feel it would be fair that a transgender woman wins the Miss USA title over a natural-born woman?" so the question read.
"I do think that that would be fair but I can understand that people would be a little apprehensive to take that road because there is a tradition of natural-born women, but today where there are so many surgeries and so many people out there who have a need to change for a happier life, I do accept that because I believe it's a free country," she answered.
Fourth runner-up was Jasmyn Wilkins of Georgia, third runner-up was Jade Kelsall of Nevada, second runner-up was Audrey Bolte of Ohio, and first runner-up was Nana Meriwether of Maryland. Miss Congeniality was Rebecca Hodge of Iowa, while Miss Photogenic was Alaina Bergsma of Oregon.