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Sherman Oaks Resident Alyssa Campanella Crowned Miss USA

LAS VEGAS (CBS/AP) — Alyssa Campanella made The Golden State proud Sunday night when she was crowned Miss USA 2011.

The Los Angeles resident bested 51 other beauty queens to take the title at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Campanella will replace Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih, and be America's representative to the Miss Universe pageant in Brazil in September.

Wynn Las Vegas oddsmaker Johnny Avello hit the mark when he tabbed the auburn-haired California contestant the 8-1 favorite of the competition in just-for-fun odds earlier in the competition.

The pageant is celebrating its 60th anniversary, growing from its roots as a bathing revue in Long Beach, Calif., in 1952 to a made-for-TV spectacle owned jointly by mogul Donald Trump and NBC, which will air the pageant live to East Coast viewers.

Separate from rival pageant Miss America, Miss USA has been known in recent years for having judges at times ask somewhat sticky questions, challenging contestants to reveal more about their opinions than they might want.

This year's panel of judges included several well-known celebrities, including Dallas Maverick center Tyson Chandler, chef Rocco DiSpirito, actress Mariel Hemingway, magician Penn Jillette, rapper and producer Lil Jon, "Real Housewives of New Jersey" housewife Caroline Manzo and OPI beauty products founder Suzi Weiss-Fischmann.

The show was co-hosted by Bravo's Andy Cohen and E! News Anchor Giuliana Rancic.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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