Miss USA 2011, not Miss America, is crowned

For the stunning red-head Alyssa, it’s on to compete for the title of Miss Universe!

Alyssa Campanella may have been raised a Jersey girl, but she represented the Golden State to take home the crown in the Miss USA 2011 pageant (not to be confused with Miss America!), filmed at the Planet Hollywood Casino in Las Vegas. Alyssa bested first runner up Miss Tennessee Ashley Durham, second runner up Miss Alabama Madeline Mitchell, and third runner up Miss Texas Ana Rodriguez. Alyssa, a full-time model was considered one of the judge’s favorites.

This isn’t the end of the road for our winner — She gets to represent the United States in the Miss Universe pageant Sept. 12 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. That is, of course, if she complies with the very strict rules that apply to any woman holding the Miss USA title.

2010′s Miss America winner, Rima Fakih, 25, who presented Alyssa with her crown, was recently held under scrutiny after she appeared to have been out on an all-night bender. The prestigious title now means living under a microscope since the Tara Conner scandal. The 2006 winner was called out for drug abuse, underage drinking, and sexual indiscretion, but was not stripped of her title.