The cellist who became a beauty queen: Rhode Island stunner, 20, crowned Miss USA

A 20-year-old cellist from Rhode Island won the Miss USA crown and will represent the United States in this year's Miss Universe pageant, after she made it clear that she embraced all beauty queens- transgender or otherwise- during the interview portion of the competition.

Olivia Culpo topped a field of 51 beauty queens on Sunday to take the title at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

She strutted across the stage in a purple bikini and a purple evening gown with sparkly belt.

 Winner: Olivia Culpo, 20, from Rhode Island won the title of Miss USA on Sunday night during the live broadcast

 In the dreaded final question round, Ms Culpo was faced with the most difficult question of the night: would it be fair for a person born a man to be named Miss Universe after becoming a woman?

Ms Culpo never stumbled as she embraced the Miss Universe Organization's recent decision to admit transgender contestants.

  ‘I do think that would be fair,’ Ms Culpo said. ‘But I could understand how people could be apprehensive to take that road.’

Ms Culpo said she was short and chubby as a girl, but blossomed after a growth spurt.

 I can't believe it: Miss Culpo said she was short and chubby as a girl, but blossomed after a growth spurt

Rather than spending all her time primping and focused on her looks, she attended band camp in the summer, devoting much of her time to her cello.

Miss Iowa USA Rebecca Hodge was named Miss Congeniality, and Miss Oregon USA Alaina Bergsma was named the most photogenic. They both won $1,000, but didn't make the top 16.

The pageant at the Planet Hollywood casino on the Las Vegas Strip had three competitions: swimsuit, evening gowns and interview question.

Top five: (From left) Miss Ohio, Miss Maryland, Miss Rhode Island, Miss Nevada and Miss Georgia

Top ten: The finalists pose on stage during the 2012 pageant. Miss Culpo will represent the United States at the 61st Miss Universe pageant later this year

Who Wore It Better: Tulisa Contostavlos Vs Kate Middleton Vs Kim Kardashian in Alexander McQueen!

Don’t you just love this scarlet red dress by Alexander McQueen from the Fall 2011 collection? I do and it looks beautiful on all three ladies below. Kate Middleton wore it at the Queen Diamond Jubilee ceremony on the river Thames.  However, she wasn’t the first to wear this red number. Tulisa Contostavlos wore it at an X Factor audition last year while Kim Kardashian wore hers in New York around the same time last year.

Both Kim and Tulisa wore the sleeveless version. Kate donned the long sleeves version for obvious reason, it rained all day in London. You can tell the ladies rocked it differently from the accessories to the hair and shoes.

The gloomy weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the Great British public who gathered along the River Thames this afternoon for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge were quite the handsome couple as they prepared to board the royal barge ‘Spirit of Chartwell’.

Catherine was resplendent wearing a fire engine red Alexander McQueen dress.

The dress was originally presented sleeveless as part of the brands Pre-Fall 2011 collection which Tulisa Contostavlos wore to the X Factor Liverpool auditions last year.

For this occasion Catherine’s long-sleeve McQueen dress, which is also longer in length, was designed especially by Sarah Burton.

Catherine styled her look with a red Sylvia Fletcher hat from James Lock & Co, a maritime-themed brooch featuring gold dolphins, nude LK Bennett pumps, a red clutch and she’s also carrying a tartan scarf.

It seems like the Catherine has a thing for pleats at the moment, as her last two looks have had a pleated skirt.

And where did Kimmy wear hers last year?  To the grocery store!  In her typical over-the-top style, she removed the sleeves, and threw on a statement necklace and sky-high python pumps to stroll down the supermarket aisles.

           President Obama Graces the July Cover of ESSENCE

“I’ve always approached my presidency as a long-term proposition… I didn’t run for office just to clean up the mess I inherited. I didn’t run for office just to return to the status quo. Understanding that some of the things I get done, we may not see the benefits from them for ten years. But that’s how change happens…” —President Barack Obama, ESSENCE

 As the Election 2012 season ramps up, ESSENCE sits down exclusively with President Barack Obama to hear his plan for improving the economy, our health, homes and future, and why he’s excited about the next four years. First Lady Michelle Obama also shares a special heartfelt salute to our military and their families in “Pride & Glory.” Plus, in “Back in the U.S.A.” ESSENCE puts the spotlight on soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team for Operation New Dawn who are fresh from Iraq deployments, adapting to life at home and celebrating July 4th with their family and friends.

                        Cover girl: Julianne appears in Glamour.

        Sophia Bush In David Meister – 2012 CFDA Fashion Awards

The always-lovely Sophia Bush graced the red carpet at the 2012 CFDA Fashion Awards on Monday evening, held at the Alice Tully Hall in New York City.

Sophia stood out in a draped David Meister Signature dress.

The bright-orange hue is especially on-trend, as ‘Tangerine Tango’ was named the 2012 Pantone Colour of the Year.

I love that Sophia chose to add an extra pop of colour via her Christian Louboutin ‘Echasse’ blue-and-orange sandals, rather than a pair of more expected gold heels.

A Daniel Swarovski gold crystal ‘Lana’ clutch and Lorraine Schwartz jewels adds some sparkle to the ensemble.

Beachy waves and skin-kissed makeup finish the summery look.

                    Alicia Keys Color Blocking Outfit [PHOTO].

Alicia Keys looks gorgeous working this season’s color-blocking trend. The singer posted the picture with the caption:

Trust me when I tell you, The ride were about to go on….!!!! Hop on

This is color blocking done right! What do you think? Did Alicia get it right?

                                        
                               LOOK OF THE DAY

             Nicki Minaj Pulls Out Of Hot 97 Summer Jam Over DJ Dis

Hot 97′s annual Summer Jam concert, which went down last night in New Jersey, is an annual mega-circus and a highlight of the year if you’re a particular sort of rap fan in the greater New York area. The stadium show generally adds tons of surprise guests to its already-packed lineups and plays like a dizzy, fast-moving live version of one of the station’s playlists. It’s something of a tradition for the show’s headliner to play a set utterly jammed with famous surprise guests. But last night, Nicki Minaj, the show’s headliner, pulled out at the last possible second because of something that one of the station’s DJs had said about her.

During the outdoor “festival” that always precedes the big stadium show, resident Hot 97 doofy white guy Peter Rosenberg said, “I know there are some chicks in here waiting to sing along with ‘Starships‘ later. I’m not talking to y’all right now. Fuck that bullshit.”

Pretty soon after that, Lil Wayne said on Twitter that “Young Money ain’t doing Summer Jam,” and that was it. As Billboard reports, Nicki and DJ Khaled both canceled planned sets. And that’s significant, since Nicki’s set was apparently set to include appearances from Wayne, Lauryn Hill, Nas, Foxy Brown, Beenie Man, 2 Chainz, and most of the Young Money crew. She also had a massive pink set built. Her set would’ve been a big deal, but it wasn’t to be.

In the end, Nas and Lauryn Hill cobbled together an impromptu performance to end the show, and station DJ Funkmaster Flex shared some harsh words about Nicki and vowed to end a career on the air tonight at 7. But if I’d actually paid money for a Summer Jam ticket and found my way to Jersey, I would’ve been pretty pissed at both Nicki and the station.

                           Red Carpet Trends: Peplum Dresses

 The night’s biggest trend on the red carpet at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards on Sunday night was peplum dresses.

Charlize Theron (in Lanvin), Emma Stone (in Martin Grant), Emma Watson (in Brood), Julia Jones (in Joy Cioci) and Julianne Hough (in Sally LaPointe) all opted for peplum dresses.

Each look look was very different.

Charlize’s gave us strapless Parisian chic. Stone’s was two-tone and elegant. Watson was sporty, colourful and edgy. Julia popped on the red carpet with a bright neon colour and sharp detailing and Julianne gave us a cut-out version of this trend.

Which was your favourite peplum look?

Red Carpet Trends: Summer LBDs

 While prints, neons and tie dye are perfect for summer days, when the sun goes down, black still rules.

This was definitely the case on the red carpet this weekend as LBDs dominated at the Spike TV’s ‘Guys Choice’ Awards.

Mila Kunis (in Lanvin), Emma Stone (in Versace), Malin Akerman (in Emporio Armani) and Kate Beckinsale (in Tom Ford) all wore black; as did Dianna Agron, hosting the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

The Queen of the LBDs, Jennifer Aniston (in Valentino), also jumped on the trend this weekend at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards.

Charlize Theron is the other star who is opting for LBDs a lot this summer.

She at least punches up her look with a bright pink lip colour and statement heels, which is the key to working a LBD as a chic, easy breezy look this summer.

Rihanna in stills from her new ad campaign for Vita Coco¿s Tropical Fruit water.