Miss USA wins 'eco' crown

Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton reacts after being crowned Miss USA in Las Vegas. Photo Eric Jamison/AP.

The 21-year-old aspiring motivational speaker from Wilmington beat out 50 other beauty queens in a live pageant televised from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Dalton edged out first runner-up Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, of San Diego, and second runner-up Miss Arizona USA Alicia-Monique Blanco, of Phoenix. Last year's Miss USA was Crystle Stewart of Texas.

The title comes with a year's use of a New York apartment, a public relations team, a two-year scholarship at the New York Film Academy and an undisclosed salary.

Dalton will go on to compete for the Miss Universe title in the Bahamas in August, where American beauties haven't been lucky in recent years. Both Stewart and predecessor Miss USA Rachel Smith wiped out on stage during the evening gown competition, becoming accidental YouTube stars.

Stewart has avoided the foibles and scandals that have followed other recent pageant winners. Earlier this month, Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza was skewered for a blog posting from a trip to Guantanamo Bay. The entry described having "aloooot of fun" at a base that houses the notorious military prison and was later deleted from the pageant's website.

Organizers said Sunday's show kicks off "Green Week" at NBC. As part of the environmental awareness campaign, the Miss USA crown was designed by a jeweler that specializes in conflict-free and eco-friendly jewels. The crown from Diamond Nexus Labs of Franklin, Wis., is worth $202,000.