Fashion student named Miss USA

Fashion marketing student Chelsea Cooley got into pageants for the scholarships.

“I fell in love with them, and it snowballed,” she said. “And here I am, Miss USA.”

Cooley, 21, the reigning Miss North Carolina, was crowned Miss USA in the 54th annual pageant Monday night.

She will compete May 30 in the Miss Universe competition in Bangkok, Thailand.

Miss California, Brittany Hogan, 20, was first runner-up; Miss Kentucky, Kristen Lynn Johnson, 23, was second runner-up; Miss Illinois, Jill Gulseth, 21, was third runner-up; and Miss Florida, Melissa Witek, 24, was fourth runner-up.

Cooley said before the show that she wrote several of her fellow contestants a note to “let them know that regardless of what happened tonight, I will always believe in them because they truly are extraordinary women and I’m very proud of them.”

On Monday night, the five finalists were asked questions written by their fellow contestants.

Cooley was asked, “What famous person does your personality most parallel?”

She replied, “I guess it would be Oprah (Winfrey). She has a passion for life.”

She is studying fashion marketing at the Art Institute of Charlotte and likes to watch baseball and read suspense novels in her spare time.

Cooley also listed dancing, parasailing and shopping among her hobbies.

Her dream job would be working as a buyer for Ralph Lauren.