SC State Grad Crowned Miss USA

Kara McCullough was crowned Miss USA 2017 Sunday, and while her beauty was celebrated as a part of the usual pageantry, there’s more to the 25-year-old than cameras in Las Vegas could show.

McCullough happens to be a chemist who works for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. She was born in Naples, Italy, was raised in Viginia Beach and graduated from SC State University in Orangeburg in 2013 with a degree in chemistry with an emphasis in radiochemistry.

She was also crowned Miss SC State University in 2012.

McCullough now lives in Washington, DC. This year marks the second-straight that a woman from DC has claimed the Miss USA crown. Last year, District of Columbia resident Deshauna Barber became the first-ever military member to win Miss USA.

McCullough will now move on to compete in the Miss Universe contest.

** The Associated Press contributed to this report.