Fighting Illness, Student Crowned Miss America

Opera-singing Laura Kaeppeler nabs 2012 crown

(NEWSER) - Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler sang opera, wise-cracked, spoke candidly about being the child of a convict, and refused to get drawn into politics en route to grabbing the 2012 Miss America crown last night. Kaeppeler, when asked if beauty queens should bare their politics, responded: "Miss America represents everyone, so I think the message to political candidates is that they represent everyone as well. And so in these economic times, we need to be looking forward to what America needs, and I think Miss America needs to represent all." More»

Eva Ekvall fought to raise breast cancer awareness

(NEWSER) - Eva Ekvall was many things in her short life—a mother, an actress, a TV news anchor and, at the age of 17, Miss Venezuela. But she will be best remembered for her fight against breast cancer, which raised awareness of the disease among thousands of ordinary Venezuelans. Ekvall, who died in a Houston hospital over the weekend at the age of 28, became an advocate for a cancer charity after her diagnosis last year—and authored a book about her struggle, which included images of her undergoing chemotherapy, bald and without makeup, reports AP. More»

Leila Lopes didn't deserve to win, Laury Thilleman implies

(NEWSER) - Sounds like someone's a sore loser: Miss France Laury Thilleman snarked about Miss Angola Leila Lopes after Lopes was crowned Miss Universe , complaining to a French magazine about Lopes' fashion sense, among other things. The Washington Post offers a translation: "She was the only girl I didn’t know very well. We didn’t see her much; she was very discreet. She was often in jeans and not wearing makeup." More»

Leila Lopes wins the top honor

(NEWSER) - In a competition that was, for once, scandal-free, Miss Angola Leila Lopes was crowned Miss Universe last night in Brazil. Get a taste of the evening via the best lines, as reported by the AP :

• Lopes, 25, during the pageant's Q&A portion: Asked what she would change about her physical appearance, she replied, "Thank God I'm very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn't change a thing. I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty."
• Connie Chung, celebrity judge: "You have to keep in mind that these women are not objects just to be looked at. They're to be taken seriously."

Miss California Alyssa Campanella wins the title

(NEWSER) - Miss California Alyssa Campanella, a self-described “huge history geek,” was named Miss USA at the Las Vegas pageant last night. The 21-year-old formerly represented New Jersey in the Miss Teen USA contest in 2007, but moved to Los Angeles a year and a half ago and plans to stay. She will move on to the Miss Universe pageant in Brazil on Sept. 12. More»