(Bulgaria) – Olivia Culpo, 20, a brunette from Rhode Island has been chosen as Miss Universe 2012 by a 10-judge panel from 89 contestants representing countries ranging from India to Kosovo and Britain. Culpo is the eighth winner from the United States in the contest’s 60-year history, and the first Miss USA to take the title since 1997.
Miss Philippines, 23-year-old Janine Tugonon, was the runner-up and Miss Venezuela, Irene Sofia Esser Quintero, came third after the top five answered brief questions posed by the judges.
Culpo takes the place of last year’s winner Leila Lopes, who was the first ever Miss Universe from Angola.
