Miss Universe Winner 2012: Miss USA Olivia Culpo takes the crown after controversial run

On Dec. 19, the Miss Universe pageant crowned its 2012 winner: and Olivia Culpo, Miss USA, took home the coveted crown. Culpo, who is rumored to be dating Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, takes over for 2011 winner Leila Lopes of Angola.

The 20-year-old Boston University student and cellist put her studies on hold to perform the duties involved in being Miss USA. She'd only been participating in pageants for a year when she was crowned Miss USA, after having been Miss Rhode Island.

Raised in Edgewood, Rhode Island, Culpo comes from a family of musicians, and has four siblings.

She's a relatively controversial contestant. Miss Pennsylvania, Sheena Monin, quit the Miss Universe organization last year after Culpo won, first citing the organization's policy regarding transgendered contestants (who are allowed to participate) and later claiming she quit because she felt that Culpo's win was rigged.