GARY, Ind. (AP) — A journalism student from Texas was crowned Miss USA 2001 on Friday night.
Miss Texas Kandace Krueger, 24, attends Texas A&M University in College Station.
When host William Shatner announced her as the winner, Krueger covered her face with her hands while reigning Miss USA Lynnette Cole put a sash on Krueger, handed her a bouquet of flowers and placed a tiara on her head.
Liane Angus of the District of Columbia was first runner-up, followed by Tiffany Fallon of Georgia. The other two finalists were Gina Giacinto of Nevada and Larissa Meek of Missouri.
The contest moved to this blue-collar steel town as city officials seek to revamp the gritty image of Gary, best known for steel mills lining the Lake Michigan shoreline and once notorious for having the highest murder rate in the nation. Miss USA will be held in Gary the next two years.
The pageant winner will compete for the title of Miss Universe, which will be held in Puerto Rico in May.
Celebrity judges for the pageant were Martha Stewart, actor Daniel Baldwin, "Everybody Loves Raymond" co-star Doris Roberts, MTV personality Ananda Lewis, model Karen Duffy, actor Ernie Hudson, and Dr. Drew Pinksy, co-host of the MTV show "Loveline."
On the Net: www.missusa.com