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Donald Trump Crowns New Miss USA Nana Meriwether

Miss Universe owner says former first runner-up is "brilliant"

By Rebecca Macatee, Alicia Quarles Jan 09, 2013 10:20 PMTags
Watch: Nana Meriwether Is Crowned Miss USA

Nana Meriwether wears that crown well!

Donald Trump officially crowned the new Miss USA Wednesday in New York City. (Nana was first runner-up in the pageant, but took over that tile after 2012 Miss USA Olivia Culpo won the Miss Universe Crown at December's glorious pageant.) Donald, who owns the Miss Universe organization, gushed to E! News about Nana and the other exemplary women in the competition.

"They're brilliant, they're really into charity and the world of charity, and they're phenomenal people," he said. "They're very solid. In many cases, they went to the best colleges. In the case of Nana, she was a great athlete—a volleyball player [at UCLA]. "

That she was, and a pre-med student whose taken the MCAT and the LSAT. She told E! News last December she "almost went to law school, and [I'm probably gonna pursue a career in medicine at some point. " She's also in charge of a nonprofit, The Meriwether Foundation, which supports AIDS/HIV orphanages, clinics and schools in five African countries.  

"I'm just so blessed," Nana said Wednesday.

Blessed, yes, but also very talented and hardworking! Congratulations, Miss USA!