Miss California Alyssa Campanella waves after being crowned Miss USA 2011 during the Miss USA pageant in the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada June 19, 2011.
Miss California Alyssa Campanella waves after being crowned Miss USA 2011 during the Miss USA pageant in the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada June 19, 2011. Reuters

21-year-old Alyssa Campanella was crowned 2011 Miss USA Sunday evening.

Where was Campanella before Miss USA, and the sudden national recognition that followed?

The beauty queen was crowned Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2007 in October 2006 and eventually became runner up in the Miss Teen USA 2007 contest.

Campanella competed in the Miss California USA pageant last year and won the title.

She will go on to compete in Miss Universe 2011 in Brazil.

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