Nuclear scientist crowned Miss USA 2017

The newly crowned Miss USA, Kara McCullough, is 25 years old and a nuclear scientist with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

On the evening of May 14th (US time, which is this morning in Vietnam), the Miss USA 2017 final took place at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas, USA. Out of 50 other outstanding contestants, Kara McCullough from the District of Columbia was crowned Miss USA. This marks the second consecutive year that the victory has gone to a beauty queen from the District of Columbia. Kara McCullough will represent the United States at this year's Miss Universe competition.

Outshining 51 other outstanding contestants, Kara McCullough from the District of Columbia was crowned Miss USA. Photo: AP.

The first runner-up title went to Chhavi Verg from New Jersey. Meridith Gould from Minnesota won the second runner-up title.

The top 3 of this year's Miss USA pageant.

The new Miss USA, Kara McCullough, is 25 years old and a nuclear scientist with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. She was crowned Miss USA on Mother's Day (the second Sunday in May). Miss USA 2016 Deshauna Barber crowned Kara McCullough and took her final steps as Miss USA to commemorate her mother, who passed away from lung cancer.

Earlier, during the Q&A segment, Miss Kara McCullough received a question about feminism. She stated that, as a scientist working for the government, she wanted to change the term "feminism" to "equality." She asserted that women are fully capable of competing with men for leadership positions and office jobs. She wanted to promote this idea to women worldwide.

The moment the new Miss USA 2017 confidently strode across the stage. Photo: Reuters.

The beauty queen was emotional after winning. Photo: AP.

Throughout her time competing in the Miss USA pageant, McCullough received significant media attention and praise for her decision to compete with other contestants by sporting her natural curly hair in support of the natural hair movement in America. The natural curly hair movement advocated for Black women, or anyone with curly hair, to stop using chemicals on their hair to achieve a conventionally beautiful look. Many Black women decided to stop straightening their hair.

According to VOV