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Campanella, 21 years old, won the Miss USA 2011 pageant held in Las Vegas on Sunday. She was born in New Jersey and only moved to Los Angeles, California only 18 months ago.
The pageant had competitions in three areas: swimsuits, evening gowns, and interview questions.
Campanella calls herself "a huge science geek," and insists that evolution should be taught in public schools.
Before her victory night, Miss California earned her way into the semi-finals in preliminary judging. This involved interviews. She was one of two, among 51 contestants, to unequivocally support the teaching of evolution.
"I was taught evolution in high school. I do believe in it. I'm a huge science geek...I like to believe in the Big Bang theory and, you know, the evolution of humans throughout time," Campanella told USA Today.
Campanella was also asked her views on legalizing marijuana.
"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."
Ironically, California, the state she represents, is one of the first states to legalize medical marijuana.
Campanella will represent the U.S in this year's Miss Universe pageant to be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 12.
She was one of the favorites among pageant experts. She was crowned by current Miss USA, Rima Fakih.
Fakih, a Lebanese-born Muslim, was the first Arab-American to take the crown.
Miss Tennessee Ashley Durham came in second, while Miss Alabama and Miss Texas came in third and fourth respectively. a self-pr
Campanella dazzled in an emerald ballgown shortly after showing off her bikini body. (Darrin Bush/EPA;Julie Jacobson/AP)"I'm obsessed with the Stuart and Tudor era," she said during the show. "Whenever I go to Barnes & Noble I'm always in the history section and that is where you will find me."
Campanella added that historical fiction programs, like "Game of Thrones" and "Camelot," are among her favorites.
"I know those are fantasy," she said, "but I also watch 'The Tudors,' so I'm a huge history geek."
Miss New York Amber Collins (l.) only made it to the top 16, while Miss Texas Anna Rodriguez (r.) was named the 3rd runner-up. (Julie Jacobson/AP)When Campanella made it to the final four, she had to answer a question regarding the legalization of marijuana.
"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 replied.
Campanella (l.) reacts after being announced as a finalist during the 2011 Miss USA pageant (Julie Jacobson/AP)"I'm not sure if it should be legalized, if it would really affect, with the drug war," she added. "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."
Alyssa Campanella, Miss California, took home the biggest crown America offers on Sunday, when she won the 60th Miss USA competition in Las Vegas.
The 21-year-old New Jersey native beat out 50 other hopefuls from the States, plus Washington D.C.
The red-haired Campanella - who was once a blond - wowed the judges with not only her beauty, but her intellect.
Campanella professed to being a history buff and even wrote in her Twitter bio that she was "born in the wrong time period."
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