Tennessee journalism graduate replaces controversial titleholder

Tara Conner, who was given a second chance by Donald Trump, appeared onstage.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Rachel Smith, a journalism graduate from Tennessee, was crowned Miss USA on Friday, edging out 50 other aspiring beauty queens in a contest to replace a titleholder whose reign was nearly marred by a scandal.
Smith, 21, of Clarksville, Tenn., graduated from Belmont University and interned last year for the production company behind "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
Smith edged out top finalists Meagan Yvonne Tandy of California; Cara Renee Gorges of Kansas; Helen Salas of Nevada; and Danielle Lacourse of Rhode Island.
Contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia were vying to succeed Miss USA Tara Conner, who entered rehab after accounts surfaced suggesting she was boozing at New York clubs. The episode might have cost the Kentucky native her crown, but Donald Trump, who co-owns the pageant with NBC, gave her a second chance.
The telecast didn't shy away from the controversy, opening with a string of news and interview clips about Conner's woes. Then, the 21-year-old blonde emerged wearing a strapless, ruffled gown, and appeared on stage.
"It has been the most unforgettable year of my life and I'm back, and better than ever," Conner said to wild applause from the audience at the Kodak Theater.
Other contestants whose behavior ran afoul of the pageant's standards weren't so fortunate. Miss Nevada USA Katie Rees lost her title after racy pictures of her surfaced on the Internet, and Miss New Jersey USA Ashley Harder resigned when she got pregnant. Miss USA contestants must not have ever been married or given birth.
Got second chance
Still, Trump's decision to spare Conner sparked a war of words between the real estate mogul and "The View" co-host Rosie O'Donnell.
During a brief onstage interview with the show's hosts, Tim Vincent and Nancy O'Dell of "Access Hollywood," Conner said her plans included writing a book, and doing "correspondence work and a little bit of acting."
Far from sweeping the scandals under the rug, pageant organizers were using the extra attention drawn to the pageant in recent months to spotlight Conner's own bouts with alcohol and the steps she has taken to get help. Conner underwent a stint in rehab in Pennsylvania for her drinking.
During the swimsuit competition, the beauty queens performed a synchronized strut on stage wearing blue, pink or lilac bikinis before posing individually for the judges. All the competitors also had brief walk-ons onstage in their evening gowns before the finalists took their solo strolls for the audience.
Audience votes
The audience was also given the opportunity to cast some votes, selecting Rebecca Moore of Alabama as Miss Photogenic. The contestants voted Stephanie Trudeau of Montana as Miss Congeniality.
The Miss USA Pageant began in 1952 as a swimwear promotion in Long Beach.
Contestants pay a fee to enter and must win a state title before competing for the Miss USA crown. The winner gets to live in a fancy New York apartment for a year, during which she'll spend most of her time traveling as she represents the Miss Universe Organization and speaks out on breast and ovarian cancer awareness. She also gets to represent the United States in the worldwide Miss Universe competition.
A panel of six judges determines the winner: Jerry Springer, "Blow Out" star Jonathan Antin, "E! News" co-host Giuliana De Pandi, MTV's Vanessa Minnillo; Baby Phat President Kimora Lee Simmons and Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.