Newly crowned Miss USA Olivia Culpo will now face her next challenge: to become the the next Miss Universe. It has been 15 years since a Miss USA nabbed the Miss Universe crown. The latest was Brook Lee in 1997, who was the oldest contestant to win the title at 26.

As with all beauty pageants, the crucial interview question is a major factor in determining the winner. Back in 1997, Brook Lee was asked in the Miss USA 1997 competition how she would handle gaining weight. Her reply impressed the judges: "I think I would take a good hard look at myself, and I'd look from the inside out, and I'd know that I was the same girl that was crowned that day and it really didn't matter what I look like on the outside because I won for what I was in here [points to her heart as a sign of courage]. So if I go up, I go down, I get taller, I get shorter, my nose is bigger or smaller, I'm still who I was when that crown was on my head and I'm a good representative no matter what."


For the Miss Universe competition, Brook had been asked what she would do if she didn't have any rules for one day. To which she replied: "I would eat everything in the world! You do not understand! I would eat everything...twice!"


Miss USA 2012 Olivia Culpo was asked by celebrity judge Rob Kardashian how she would feel if a transgender woman won the Miss USA title over a natural-born woman.


Culpo was not taken aback by the question and quickly responded: "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."

Miss USA 2012 Winner Olivia Culpo Had Trickiest Interview Question

One of the judges said of her answer: "We weren't surprised at all by Rhode Island's win ... she had a gorgeous evening gown and got to show off her brains in both her candid question moment and then in her final question."


Culpo describes herself as a nerd and has been a Cellist for 13 years. She started to play the instrument in second grade. The talented beauty is from a family of musicians and has played the Cello at Boston Symphony Hall, and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF RHODE ISLAND BEAUTY OLIVIA CULPO


The 20-year-old is currently a sophomore at Boston University. Culpo will now prepare to take part in the 61st Miss Universe pageant in December 2012. The exact venue and date is yet to be announced.

Tags: Miss Usa 2012 olivia culpo Miss Universe