| Miss USA 2012 | |
|---|---|
 Olivia Culpo, Miss USA 2012 | |
| Date | June 3, 2012 |
| Presenters | |
| Entertainment | |
| Venue | The AXIS, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Broadcaster | |
| Entrants | 51 |
| Placements | 16 |
| Winner | Olivia Culpo Rhode Island |
Miss USA 2012 was the 61st Miss USA pageant, held on June 3, 2012, at The AXIS in Las Vegas, Nevada and it was televised live on NBC. Alyssa Campanella of California crowned her successor Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island at the end of the event. This was Rhode Island's first Miss USA title.[1] Culpo represented the United States at Miss Universe 2012 six months later and went on to win the Miss Universe title, becoming the eighth American to do so.
First runner-up Nana Meriwether of Maryland inherited the Miss USA title replaced Culpo to finish the reign and was officially crowned on January 9, 2013. Meriwether became the second woman from Maryland to hold the Miss USA title; the first, Mary Leona Gage, was dethroned shortly after winning.[2][3]
For the first time, a question was solicited from Twitter for the final question asked of one of the five finalists. That question picked by the pageant organizers - "Would you feel it would be fair that a transgender woman wins the Miss USA title over a natural-born woman?" - was answered by the winner, Culpo.[1]
- ^ a b Ford, Rebecca (June 4, 2012). "Miss USA 2012: Miss Rhode Island Takes the Crown". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ Associated Press (December 20, 2012). "Miss USA Olivia Culpo is crowned Miss Universe". Deseret News. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ Macatee, Rebecca; Quarles, Alicia (January 9, 2013). "Donald Trump Crowns New Miss USA Nana Meriwether". E!. Retrieved January 15, 2023.