Connecticut beauty Erin Brady was officially crowned Miss USA on June 16, and has taken the time to assure everyone that there is more to here than what meets the surface.
"I think that now more than ever, they're accepting that we're all intelligent individuals and that it's really not a stereotype," Brady told the Associated Press.
Brady proved how thoughtful she is when answering a question about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold widespread DNA tests at the pageant.
"If someone is being prosecuted and committed a crime, it should happen," she told the judges. "There are so many crimes that if that's one step closer to stopping them, then we should be able to do so."
The 25-year-old accountant is will be leaving her job at Prudential Financial in Hartford for a one-year reign as Miss USA.
Here are five you should know about the new Miss USA:
1. She is NOT a Single Lady
Fellas, let's take care of your No. 1 question: does she have a boyfriend? The answer is yes, and he was smart enough to put a ring on it. Her fiance's name is Tony Capasso and he watched Brady compete Sunday from the audience in Las Vegas.
Their wedding date is scheduled for Nov. 9, but the couple will most likely reschedule since it falls on the same day as the Miss Universe pageant in Moscow.
2. She Educated and Hard Working
Brady attended Central Connecticut State University where she majored in finance and criminal justice. Like many students today, she attended college full-time and worked full-time.
"I couldn't even think about being in beauty pageants. I had no free time and didn't have any extra money and was not mentally in the right state of mind," she told the Hartford Courant in May. "It's been a struggle but it shaped who I am. Sometimes I feel like a 35-year-old in a 25-year-old body, but the struggles helped me be better."
3. She's a Great Cook (Self-Proclaimed, That Is)
"If there were a talent portion to the competition in Las Vegas, I would make my turkey meatballs with homemade tomato sauce," Brady told the Huffington Post.
4. This Is Her Second Year Competing in Pageants
"I first entered last year and was older than a lot of women who get involved in pageants, but I did the research and the USA organization seemed to be the one that was the best fit," Brady told the Courant.
Brady was first-runner-up in the Miss Connecticut competition in 2012, before winning the crown this year.
5. She Wants to Spread Awareness of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Brady wishes to talk about helping children cope with the impact of drug and alcohol abuse during her reign as Miss USA.
"I grew up in a family influenced by that and I think it's really important to help the children of families that are suffering from those problems," she told The Associated Press.
