BRANSON, Mo. (AP) -- A 21-year-old pre-law student from Tennessee who had some good advice for her home state's football team won the Miss USA title Friday night.
During a staged news conference early in the show, Lynette Cole was asked whether she had any advice for the Tennessee Titans, the NFL team that lost the Super Bowl to the St. Louis Rams."I wish their arms were longer," quipped Cole, referring to the last play of the game when the team came a yard short of a tying touchdown.
Miss New Hampshire, Bridget Jane Vezina, was named first runner-up. Miss Alabama, Jina Mitchell, was the second runner-up.
For the second straight year, the pageant was held at the Grand Palace, one of the many theaters that draw millions of tourists to Branson, southwest Missouri's country music mecca.
Carson Daly of MTV emceed the show. Grammy nominees Lou Bega and Christina Aguilera were among several stars who performed.
Cole, of Columbia, Tenn., moves on to compete in the Miss Universe Pageant in Nicosia, Cyprus, on May 12. Donald Trump, the New York real estate magnate and a possible Reform Party presidential candidate, is a co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization with CBS Inc.
Cole will be given a media coach and a travel manager as she makes appearances on behalf of charities and events held by Miss Universe corporate sponsors.
From the various sponsors, the winner receives a silver convertible Camaro, a year's supply of makeup, a $5,000 scholarship and, because she is on the road for most of the year, $7,500 in phone cards.