Alyssa Campanella, a 21-year-old auburn-haired California girl, won the Miss USA crown on Sunday night.

Campanella, who is from Los Angeles, topped a field of 51 beauty queens to take the title at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. She will represent the nation in this year’s Miss Universe pageant in September in Brazil.

Campanella won after strutting across the stage in a blue bikini with white polka dots and a dark turquoise evening gown with beading on its top.

She also answered a question about legalizing marijuana by saying she didn’t think it should be fully legalized as a solution to help ailing economies.

“Well, I understand why that question would be asked, especially with today’s economy, but I also understand that medical marijuana is very important to help those who need it medically,” she said. “I’m not sure if it should be legalized, if it would really affect, with the drug war. I mean, it’s abused today, unfortunately, so that’s the only reason why I would kind of be a little bit against it, but medically it’s OK.”

Miss Tennessee Ashley Durham was the first runner-up. Contestants from Alabama and Texas placed third and fourth.

Campanella replaces Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih. The Michigan woman teared up as she walked across the stage for a final goodbye.